Effects Acid Precipitation and River Ecosystems in Quebec ... · Cffects of Acld Precipitatlon on...

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Effects of Acid Precipitation on Lake and River Ecosystems in ~is;i ieiies and Oceans ~esearch Quebec: Review of Department -1 9 Activities (lsbl-1985) 32viçion de I't-labitat du poisson Direction des sciences biologiques Ministère des Pêches et des Océans Institut Maurice -Lamontagne C.P. 1000 Mont-Joli, Québec G5H 324 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Transcript of Effects Acid Precipitation and River Ecosystems in Quebec ... · Cffects of Acld Precipitatlon on...

Page 1: Effects Acid Precipitation and River Ecosystems in Quebec ... · Cffects of Acld Precipitatlon on Lake and River Ecosystems in Quebec: Revi ew of Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Effects of Acid Precipitation on Lake and River Ecosystems in

~is;i ieiies and Oceans ~esearch Quebec: Review of Department

- 1 9 Activities (lsbl-1985)

32viçion de I't-labitat du poisson

Direction des sciences biologiques Ministère des Pêches et des Océans Institut Maurice -Lamontagne C.P. 1000 Mont-Joli, Québec G5H 324

Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

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Rapport technique canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques

Les rapports techniques contiennent des renseignements scientifiques et techniques qui constituent une contribution aux connaissances actuelles, mais qui ne sont pas normalement appropriés pour la publication dans un journal scientifique. Les rapports techniques sont destinés essentiellement à un public international et ils sont distribués à cet échelon. Il n'y a aucune restriction quant au sujet; de fait, la série reflète la vaste gamme des intérêts et des politiques du ministère des Pêches et des Océans, c'est-à-dire les sciences halieutiques et aquatiques.

Les rapports techniques peuvent être cités comme des publications complètes. Le titre exact paraît au-dessus du résumé de chaque rapport. Les rapports techniques sont

.résumés dans la revue Résumés des scie~zces aquatiq~~es et Izalieutiques, et ils sont classés dans l'index annuel des publications scientifiques et techniques du Ministère.

Les numéros 1 à 456 de cette série ont été publiés à titre de rapports techniques de l'Office des recherches sur les pêcheries du Canada. Les numéros 457 à 7 14 sont parus à titre de rapports techniques de la Direction générale de la recherche et du développe- ment. Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère de l'Environnement. Les numéros 715 à 924 ont été publiés à titre de rapports techniques du Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère des Pêches et de l'Environnement. Le nom actuel de la série a été établi lors de la parution du numéro 925.

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Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Technical reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which is not normally appropriate for primary literature. Technical reports are directed primarily toward a worldwide audience and have an international distribution. No restriction is placed on subject matter and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, namely, fisheries and acquatic sciences.

Technical reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. Each report is abstracted in Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts and indexed in the Department's annual index to scientific and technical publications.

Numbers 1-456 in this series were issued as Technical Reports of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 457-714 were issued as Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service, Research and Development Directorate Technical Reports. Numbers 715-924 were issued as Department of Fisheries and the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service Technical Reports. The current series name was changed with report number 925.

Technical reports are produced regionally but are numbered nationally. Requests for individual reports will be filled by the issuing establishment listed on the front cover and title page. Out-of-stock reports will be supplied for a fee by commercial agents.

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Canadlan Technical Report o f

Fi sher les and Aquat lc Sciences No 1554

June 1987

C f fec t s o f Acld P r e c i p i t a t l o n on Lake and River Ecosystems

i n Quebec: Revi ew o f Department o f F i she r i es and Oceans Research A c t i v i t i e s (1981-1985)

D i v i s i o n de l 'Hab i ta t du poisson

in i s t è r e des pêches e t des Océans

D i r e c t i o n des sciences b io log iques 1 n s t i t u t Maur l c e i a m n t a g n e

C.P. 1000 &nt-JO l i, ~ u é b e c

GSH 324

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M l n i s t e r of Çupp l y and Çervlces Canada 1935

Catal og ie No FS 97-6/1554.. . . .. . . . . 1 SSM 0706-6457

This p u b l i c a t i o n should be c l t e d as:

Departinent of Fisher ies and Oceans. 1984. E f f e d s o f aclcl p r e c l p l t a t i o n on lake and r i v e r ecosystma

f n Quebec: Revl ew of Departinent o f F lsher ies and Oeeans research a c t l v i t i e s (1981-9 985). Çan. Tech. Repo Flsh. AquaP. Se io 9554: Tx + 65 p.

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TAeLE OF CONTENTS

Page .

................................................................................. LIST OF TAELES v

L IST OF FIGCRES ..e.....e......e........e............... ....................................... v i

L IST OF PNNESS ........................................................................... v i i

ABSTRACT ....~e........e............................................................ . v i i i

C

REÇUME o...e ...o.ro....O..D...e..........O............................................... .. v i i i

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1

..................................................... DFOQUEBEC MANDATE AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 1

PHYSICOCHEMICAL Q U P L I N OF PQUATIC SYSTEMS ..................................................... 2

SNDIES CONDUCTED I N LAKE AND RIVER ENVIRONMNTS ........................................... 2

Lake e n v i r o n m n t s ..................................................................... 5

R i v e r e n v i r o m e n t s : surveys .......................................................... 16

R i v e r e n v i r o n m n t s : s p e c i f i c s t u d i e s ................................................. 19

.............................................. 8lOLOGlCAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MUATIC CCMMJNITIES 29

INKRTEBRATES .............................................................................. 2 9

Phy top lank ton ......................................................................... 29 Zocp la rk ton ........................................................................... 34

Benthos ............................................................................... 38

................................................ C h a r a d e r i z a t i o n o f t h e f i s h c m m u n i t y 3 9 ............................................. Surv lva l o f sa lmonid eggs and f r y i n s i t u 43 .. T o x i c e f f e c t s o f m t a l s .............................................................. 48

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TAeLE OF CONTENTS fcont i nued)

Page -

SALKIN R I M R S ON THE NORTH SHORE o o e o o e e e e . . e o o . o . e e e . . e e o . * o e o o e . e a e e e e e o e e . o o o e e e a . o e e e . o 5 2

LAKE ENVIRQNFENTS ~ 0 ~ e e ~ 0 e ~ 0 0 0 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 0 0 0 e e 0 0 0 0 0 ~ 0 0 0 0 0 ~ ~ 0 0 0 0 0 53

ACKNOVEQGMNTÇ ~ e ~ e . e . . ~ o e e ~ e e e e ~ e o ~ e o o o e e e e e e ~ ~ e ~ ~ ~ ~ o e e e o e o 5 5

REFERENCES ............ e . . . . . . . . . . . . e . e a e o o o e . . o o o o 5 5

MNEX . e . . e o e o s . e ~ e o . o . o . * e o o o o o o o o o o e o e o e o ~ o a o 61

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LIST OF TABLES

Page - Table - 1 Act l v i t y c a r r i e d ait i n Quebec l ake env i ronmnts by t h e D e p a r t w n t o f F isher ies

and Oceans (1981-1985) ............................................................... 3

A c t i v l t y c a r r l e d ait i n sa1 m n r i ve rs on t h e North Shore by t h e Depar tmn t o f .................................................... Fisher ies and Oceans (1981-1985) 4

Number o f lakes sampled f o r physicochemical q u a l i t y (1981-1983 surveys) ............. 6

Salmon r ivers sampled under t h e F lsher ies and .Oceans progran, 1981-1985 ( f r m Wa lsh ................................................................. and Vigneault 1986) 7

Physicochemlcal compasit ion o f l akes i n t h e Canadian Shiel d (Quebec) sampled duri ng t h e summr o f 1982: regional averages (adapted f r m Langlois e t al. 1985) .......... 10

C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f lakes by mans o f t h e a I k a I i n i t y / s u l f a t e r a t i o w i t h i n t h r e e zones o f exposure t o atmospherlc s u l f a t e s ................................................. 15

Weakdown o f number o f s a l m n r i ve rs surveyed i n terms o f l oca t i on (Upper, Middle, o r L w e r North Shore) and i n terms o f t h r e e c lasses o f annual mean values f o r physicochemical p a r a w t e r s ( f rcm Walsh and V igneaul t 1986) .......................... 18

b a n chemical compositions from analyses o f four h u m - f e r r i c podzols taken a t f cu r s ta t i ons i n t h e watershed o f t h e Casset te R i ve r (1983) ( f r m Brouard and Lachance

Physicochemlcal composition o f p r e c i p i t a t i o n and ground snow from c l e a r i ng and f o r e s t .......................................... locations ( f r m Brouard and Lachance 1986) 25

Hydrochemica l balance o f t h e Cassette Ri ver watershed ( f r m Brouard and Lachance 1986) ............................................................................... 26

Number o f lakes sampled f o r phytoplankton (PH), zooplankton (ZO), benthos (BE) and f i sh (FI (Surveys and spec i f i c studies, 1981-1983) ................................. 32

Summary o f cperat ions and r e s u l t s obtained dur i ng in s i t u incubat ions conducted by Lec le rc e t al. (1984)..........................~................................ 46 --

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v l

LIST OF FIGURES

F igure

1 Geographical locat ion o f salmon r i v e r s surveyed over t h e 1981-1985 per iod ( f rom Walsh and Vigneault 1986) ........................................................ 8

2 Geographical d i s t r i b u t i o n o f lakes i n terms o f s u l f a t e concentrat ion (uEq/L) ( f rom Langlois e-t al. 1985) .....................................e......................... 11

3 Gesgraphical d i s t r i b u t i o n o f lakes I n terms o f a ika l i n i t y / su l f a te r a t i o ( f rom Lang lo is d' aie 19859 e e e o o c o o o o o a s a o e o o e ~ e e o o o o ~ e o e e e o e e e e o * 14

4 Time v a r i a t i o n i n r a t e o f 41ow and calcium, su l fa tes , n i t r a tes , and hydrogen ion concentrat ions f o r the Sainte-Marguerite River ( f rom Brouard e t a l . 1982) ........... 21

5 Time v a r i a t i o n i n r a t e o f f low, pH, and calcium, bicarbonate, and s u l f a t e concentrat ions f o r the Cassette River ( sp r i ng 1984) ( f rom Brouard and Lachance 1986) o e . e e . e a . e o o o * e o o e o o e e o o o e e e . e o o o e o o e e e . 27

Time v a r i a t i o n i n aluminum spec ia t ion i n t h e surface waters o f t he Cassette River ........................................... (sp r ing 1984) (from Campbell e-Î a l . 1984) 28

Seasonal v a r i a t i o n i n atmospheric inputs and exports o f n i t r a tes , su l fa tes , and ......... calcium f o r the Cassette River (1983-1984) (from Brouard and Lachance 1986) 30

Phytoplankton. Mean number o f genera and mean t o t a l abundance by pH c lass ( f rom ............................................................... Langlois eP al . 1983) 33 --

....... Zoopiankton. Mean number o f species by pH c lass (from Langlois e7 a i . 1983) 36

Re la t i ve abundance o f d i f f e r e n t zooplankton groups as a func t ion o f pH ( f rom Langlois e t a l . 1983) ............................................................... 37

Benthos. Total number o f organisms and b imass (d ry weight) as a f unc t i on o f pH ......................................................... (from Langlois e t al. 1983) 40

F ish lng y i e l d and species d i v e r s i t y versus pH c lass ( f rom Langlois e t a l . 1983) . o . . e 42

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v l i

LIST OF FIGCRES (cont i nued)

F i gure Page -

13 Relationsh i p bet ieen i nstantanecus m r t a l i t y r a t e ( Z ) and pH i n t h e s m l l i n l e t o f Parke Lake dur i ng t h e spr i ng o f 1982 ( f r a n L e c l e r c 1982) ............................. 45

A b l o t i c m r t a l l t y ( 8 ) as a func t l on o f t h e nmber o f days o f developrrent i n an a c i d t r i b u t a n / (pH 4.4), ac ld o u t l e t (pH 4.8), and t h e c o n t r o l e n v i r o m n t (pH 6.8) ( f r a n Lec lerc et al. 1984) .........................eOO.eO.............................. 47 --

Time v a r i a t i o n i n cumulative m r t a l i t y r a t e f o r s a l m n eggs incubated i n t r o u $ ~ i n t h e Casset te R i ve r ( f r a n a r m a r d and Lachance 1986) ................................. 49

Al l oca t i on o f budgetary resources f o r 1981-1985 and fo recast f o r 1986-1990 .......... 54

LIST OF ANNEXES

Page -

DFO-Quebec r e p o r t s and pub l i ca t i ons ........................................................... 62

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ABSTRACT

Depariment of F i she r i es and Oceans. 1987. Ef f ec t s o f ac id p r e c l p i t a t i o n on l ake and r i v e r ecosystems

i n Quebec: Revl ew of Depariment of F isher les and Oceans research a c t l v i t i e s (1981-1 985). Can.

Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1554. i x + 65 p.

Th is document reviews research ac t l v l t - l es e a r r l e d o u t I n Quebec by t h e Department o f F l s h e r i e s

and Oceans under l t s a c i d p r e c l p i t a t l o n study progran. Phys lcochmica l surveys o f lakes have made it

pcss lb \e t o l d e n t l f y t h e areas i n t h e B recmbr lan Sh le ld t h a t a r e t h e m s t s e n s i t i v e t o a c i d i f i c a t l o n and those Phat a r e s u b j e c t t o Pke h i gkes t leve ls o f ac id deposit ion. I n t h l s report, we b r l e f l y revlew t h e resul t s o f a study on t h e r e s p n s e Po ac id p r e c i p l t a t i o n o f a subwatershed o f t h e Des Esccuml ns River. We a lso prov ide an overvlew o f surveys of i nve r teb ra te and f i s h ccinminit ies as wel l as t h e resul t s o f experlments conducted l n t h e f i e l d ( f l e s h m t a l concentrations, incubat ion o f salmon eggs and f r y ) and t h e labora tory ( l e t h a l and avoldance dosages o f alumi numf. F ina l ly, we present an out lob< f o r t h e nex t f ive-year research progrm.

Department o f F i she r i es and Oceans. 1987. Ef f ec t s o f ac id p r e c i p i t a t i o n on lake and r i v e r ecosys tms

i n Quebec: Rev 1 ew o f Depariment of F I sher ies and Oceans research a c t l v i t i e s (1981 -1 985). Can. Tech. Rep. Flsh. Aquat. Sc!. 1554: i x + 65 p.

Ce document présente une ré t rospec t i ve des a c t i v i t é s de recherche réa l i s h s au ~ u é b e c pa r l e

m in i s tè re des ~ & h e s eP des océans dans l e cadre de son progranna d'étude des précipitations acides.

Des i nventalres phys lco-eh irnlques de lacs o n t perml s de c i r c o n s c r i r e l e s zones du bcuc l i e r pr&anbr ien

l es p lus sensib les eP l es p l u s affect-&s par I sac ld l f l caP ion . On résume bri&ement l es r é s u l t a t s de

I 'étude de l a repense dsun sous-bassin versant de l a r l v?&-e des Lsccumi ns face aux retombées aimos- ph&iques. On synth&lse 6ga l m n t l es l nventaires des cmminaut& d' i n v e r t h r k e t de poissons a i n s i que les r é s u l t a t s des expériences m r n h s sur l e t e r r a i n ( teneurs en &taux dans l es chairs; incubation dsoeufs e t d 'a lev ins de sa lmn id6s ) e t en l abo ra to i re (dose l é t a l e e t d'évitement de I'aluminlmim). On présente f l na lenan t une prospect ive du procharn programme quinquennal de recherche.

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PREFACE

Under i t s research program on the e f f e c t s o f ac id p r e c i p i t a t i s n on aquat ic environments, the Department o f F isher ies and Oceans reviewed the research projecPs conducted in Quebec by the Fish Habita? D iv i s i on between 1981 and 1985. This repo r t was prepared by Denis Brouard o f G i l l e s Shooner e t ~ s s o c i é s Inc. and Marius Lachance o f the I n s t i t u t National de l a Recherche Sc len t i f ique. Yvan Vigneault served as the s c i e n t i f i c au tho r i t y f o r the Department o f F isher ies and Oceans. Further con t r i bu t i ons t o the preparat ion o f t h i s document were made by André Ahern and Ghis la in Verreau l t , a l so o f DFO. This document i s a t r a n s l a t i o n o f the fo l lowing repor t : M in i s tè re des pêches e t des océans 1987. E f f e t s des p r é c i p i t a t i o n s acides sur les écosystèmes lacustres e t f l uv iaux du ~uébec : ré t rospec t i ve des a c t i v i t & de recherche du min l s tè re des pêches e t des Océans ( 1 981 -1985). Rapp. techn. can. sc i . ha l i eu t . aquat. 1554: x + 68 p.

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1 NTRODUCT ION

I n t h e con.text o f research i n t o ac id pre- c i p i t a t i o n i n Quebec, t h e Department o f F i s h e r i e s and Oceans (ûFO) has been lnvolved s ince 1981 i n study of t h e repercussions of Long- Range Transpor ta t ion o f Alrborne Pol l u tan ts (LRTPP) on f i s h and f i s h habitat. Acid p r e c i p i t a t l o n 1s a phenanenon o f t r anendas scope and represents a t h r e a t t o t he sens i t i ve aquat ic envlrorments of t he Canadl an Sh le1 de Accordl ng ly , a la rge number o f research a c t l v i t i e s have al ready been ca r r l ed a ? . E f f o r t s have focussed p r lmar l \ y on assessnent o f t h e e f f e c t s o f ac id r a l n on aquatic envlrorments i n Quebec and develcpment o f air

understandi ng o f t h e physical, c h m i cal, and b io log i ca l mechanisns thrcugh which a c i d i f i c b t i o n of aquat ic h a b i t a t s a f f e c t s b io log i ca l cannuni t ies and f i s h i n pa r t i cu la r .

Af t e r f i v e years o f research e f f o r t , DFO- Quebec f e l t t h e t ime had cane t o prepare a r e v i w of t h e research a c t i v i t i e s Tt has ca r r i ed o u t t o da te i n Quebec. Such a review i s an i ndi spensable step i n assessrtent o f t h e depar-imentls research progran and preparat ion f o r poss ib le s e l e c t i o n o f n w goals.

The research a c t i v i t i e s covered i n t he r e v i w w l l l be examined w i th t h e f o l lcwing object ives:

- h igh l i g h t i n g o f kncwledge acquired on bio- l og l ca l and chemical phenanena t h a t a re l i k e l y t o be a f fec ted by a c i d i f l c a t i o n o f aquat ic habf t a t s ;

- in teg ra t i on o f t h e e n t i r e body of kncxledge t o p e n i t estab l lshnent of a diagnosis f o r t h e e f f e d o f ac ld p r e c i p i t a t i o n on lake and r i ver ecosystems 1 n Quebec;

- use and i n teg ra t i on of knmledge acquired

over t h e f ive years o f study w i th a v i w t o

t h e poss ib le es tab l ishnent o f an ecological m n i t o r i ng network.

DFO-QUEBEC MANDATE AND RESEARCH ACTIV I T IES

DFO, under i t s enabl ing l eg i s l a t i on , i s responslble f o r t h e regulat lon, p r o t e c t i o n and preservat ion o f Canadian f i s h e r l e s ( I n both ocean and in land waters). Th i s sec to r i a l respons ib l l ity extends no t only t o aquat ic organlsns, bu t a lso t o t h e qua1 i t y o f t h e i r hab i tats.

Research ac t i v i t les c a r r ied o u t i n connection w i t h t he ac id r a i n p r o b l m are essent ia l ly intended t o permi t f u l f i l lment of

DFO's h o p r i o r i t y mandates w i t h regard t o t he

e f f e c t s of envirornental ac id i f l c a t i o n on aquat lc w l I d l i fe. The f i r s t o f these mandates involves protection o f freshwater and anadro- m u s f i s h species wh i l e t h e second concerns l ong-term m i ntenance of f i sh resources of s p o r t o r canmrc ia l i n t e r e s t f o r t h e benef it o f Canadi an s o c i e t y and t h e c o u n t r y ' s economy.

Frcm a general viewpoint, a c t i v i t l e s conducted by DFO i n Quebec have fa1 len under t h e LRTPP research progr m. DFO-Q uebec' s bas ic objective i s thus i n keeping w i t h t h e nat iona l object ive: p rod i c t i on o f t h e scien- t i f i c data required f o r assessnent o f t he e f f e d s of acid p r e c i p i t a t i o n i n aquat ic envi rorments t h a t shou I d help t o reduce atmospheric pol l u tan t emissions a t source.

More speci f i ca l ly, t h e ob jec t i ves of DFO-Quebec can be brdten dcwn i n t o four corrponen t s ;

- assessnent o f t h e physicochanical qua1 ity o f

water I n Quebec l akes and r ?vers;

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- a c q u i s l t l o n o f an understanding of t he e f f e c t s o f changes I n aquat ic habl t a t qua1 i- t y on b i o l o g i c a l cornmunitles;

- masurement o f t h e impact o f ac ld i f i c a t l o n on t h e reprochct ion and surv lva l of f lah pcpul a t l ons o f s p o r t o r c a n m r c i a l In ter - est;

- assesçment o f m P a l t o x l c i t y i n P Y sh under v a r i a i s a c l d s t r e s s c o n d l t i ~ n s ~

i nterna l reports, see Annex 11. The a c t i v i - f i e s described i n Tables 1 and 2 w i l l be examined I n t h e f o l l owl ng order:

- physicochemical qua1 ity o f aquat ic systems;

- b l o l c g l cal charac ter~s- î lcs o f aquat lc canrm- n l t l e s ;

- eco iog ica l msnlf-oring neiwork f o r salmon r P vers.

These ob jec t i ves a r e u l t lmately l nPended t o lead t o sa t l s fac to ry s c l e n t l f l e answers t o t h e f o l l aving questions:

PHYS ICOCHEMI CAL QUAL I TY OF PQUAP I C SYSTEMS

- What i s t h e speci f i c s ta tus o f Quebec lake envi r o n m n t s subjected t o acld prec l p i t a - t ion?

- Whaf i s t h e s p e c i f l c s t a t u s o f Quebec salnion r lvers subJected t o ae ld p r e c l p l t a t l o n ?

- What a r e t h e s p e c i f i c physical, chemical and b io log l ca l mchanisns I ink ing chemical de ter i o r a t i o n o f aquat ic habl t a t s and changes ( s t r u c t u r a l and f unct ional 1 ! n t h e v a r i a i s indigencus b io log fca l canrmn i t l e s and f l sh i n p a r t l c u l a r ?

The var lsus s tud les c a r r i e d o u t under t h e sponçorshlp o f t h e Department o f F i sherfes and Oceans can be c l a s s l f led i n four separate grmps: b lcphysical surveys, s p e c l f l c I n s i t u s tud i es, speci f i c l aboratory s tud i es, and eco log ica l m n i t o r l ng network research.

These stud l es. a r e l i sted I n Tab les 1 and 2, where t h q a r e grcuped accord! ng t o whether they dea l t w i t h l ake o r r l ve r ecoçystans. The tab les i nd i ca te t h e agencies r e s p n s i b l e f o r performi ng t h e s tud i es and provi de r e p o r t references (P f o r techn ica l r e p o r t s and R f o r

I n 1981-1983, faced ~ i t h a la& o f I n fo r - mat lon on phyalcochemlcal water q u a l i t y , DFO u n d e r t o d a vast p rog rm t o survey the phys?cochenleal qua1 Ity of lakes I n t h e Preeanbrlan Sh le ld and salmon r i v e r s on t h e Nor th Shore (Table 1). Al l these lakes and r i ve rs ( w l t h t h e exception o f t h r e e lakes I n t h e L w e r S t Limrence region) a re located i n t h e p o r t i o n o f Quebec t h a t has been i d e n t i f ied as h i g h l y s e n s i t i v e t o a c i d i f i c a t i o n (A l t shu l l e r and McBean 1980; Shi l t s 1981 ; Harvey e t a l e 19811. The area 1s contalned w l t h i n t h e Canadian Sh ie ld t o t h e south o f t h e

52nd pata l le1 and on t h e no r th shore o f t h e S t Lawrence Ri ver.

STUD IEÇ CONDLCTED I N LAKE AND RIVER ENVI ROFMENTS

A t t he end of the summr o f 1981, DFO (Lang lo is e t al. 1983) undertodc samp l l ng o f 198 headwater lakes dl s t r lbuted over f i ve h y d r q r a p h f c reglons (Outaaiais, Mauricie, Saguenay-bac S t Jean, North Shore, and A b i t i b i - J m s Bay) and grcuped I n terms o f 17 bases o f operat lons (Table 31.

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Table 1. Act l v i t y c a r r i e d ou t i n Quebec l ake envlronrrents by the Depar tmnt o f F isher les and Oceans (1981-1985).

Annex 1

1984 Nature o f a c t l v l t les

la )Phys lcochan lca l

surveys

I b) B lo log l ca l surveys Phytop l ankton Zoop I ankton F i sh - Benthos

1982

251 lakes ( Aucyst-Sept.)

Natlonal survey (PI ol)

54 lakes ( ~ 9 ' ) 54 lakes ( ~ 3 ~ ) 54 lakes ( ~ 8 ~ ) 54 lakes ( ~ 5 ~ )

(RI 6 l )

1985 1981

198 lakes(Sept.-

Oct. 1 National

survey ( ~ 2 ~ )

176 lakes (R6, ~ 7 ~ ) 37 lakes ( ~ 2 ~ 1 38 lakes ( f i 1 ) 35 i akes ( ~ 5 ~ )

( ~ 2 ~ )

Comparative b 1 ology study (phytopl ankton, zoop l ankton) o f two groups o f Lakes I n the Outaoual s (Summr 1983)

(R4, ~ 1 0 ~ )

Survlval study of brock t r c u t eggs and f r y a t Lake L a f 1 annie dur lng t h e me l t pe r l od (Auturnn 1984, Wlnter and Spr l ng 1985)

I P - Spec l f l c " l n s i t u "

stud l es

I I I- Speclf l c labora-

to ry s tud ies

Study o f brook t r o u t egg and f r y

mortal l t y Portneuf: 1981-82; Zec des Martres: 1982-83 (P7, R211)

1983

Biochemlca l da t l ng o f dead eggs by

i s o e l e c t r l c foca l l z a t l o n technique (P7, RI 11)

Study o f brock trait popul a t l o n (Lake Laf 1 amme) (Autumn 1982, Spring 1983, Smmr 1983, Autunn 1983) ( ~ € 3 ' )

b

50 lakes (surnmer)

Manlwakl: Sept- I les : Schef f e r v l l l e (RI 4 , ~ 1 5 l )

50 lakes 50 lakes 50 lakes 50 lakes

(R14, ~ 1 5 ~ )

13 lakes (summerl

Outaouais: ~ a s ~ é s l e North Shore (p9

14 lakes

(p9 l )

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Table 2. Act l v i t y c a r r l e d out I n s a l m n r l vers on the North Shore by t h e Depar tmnt o f F lsher ies and Oceans (1981-1985).

I- Blophyslcal surveys

Middle North Shore

Escoumi ns R i ver and Mn on s a l m n eggs and f ry .

I V - Monl tor lng

network

B io log l ca l monltos!ng: - resp l ra to ry a c t l v l t y o f bacter i a and

- macrobenthic comminlties

- . - - - - -p. ' Annex 1

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A second se r i es of sanp l i ng cpera t ions was conducted over t h e summrr of 1982 t o canplement and r e f l n e t h e data c o l l e d e d I n 1981 (Lang lo is e t al. 1985). Specif Ica1 ly, -- t h e purpose of t h e second se r i es was t o lmprove t h e representat iveness o f t h e area by s e l e d i n g lakes I n reg lons n o t covered i n 1981 (Table 3) and by sanpl ing lakes o f d i f f e r e n t categorles. O f t h e 251 lakes sanpl ed i n 1982, 38 and 17 were second- and t h irû-order lakes resped ive l y , whi l e 24 were bog lakes. The 1982 survey a l so todc I n 102 lakes which had a lready been sanpl ed i n 1981 . Thus, a toPal o f over 350 lakes were sanpled over t h e two- year period.

1 n 1983, two ser l e s o f sanp l i ng cpera- t l o n s w i t h m r e s p e c i f l c ob jec t i ves (Table 1) were added t o t h e prev icus serles. The physi- cochemi cal surveys conducted dur i ng these two ser les o f sanp 1 i ng ope ra t ions were i ntended t o canplement b io log i ca l surveys. The f i r s t se r i es o f 1983, c a r r i e d o u t j o i n t l y by DFO and t h e Canadian W l l d l i f e Serv ice (CWS), was f o r t h e purpose of study i ng t r c p h i c r e l a t ions i n Quebec lakes; t h l s s e r i e s tock i n 50 lakes d i s t r ibuted over four dl f f e ren t reg ions (Table 3) on t h e bas l s o f leve l o f exposure t o atmospheric ac id depos i t ion and IeveI of s e n s i t i v i t y t o a c i d i f i c a t l o n (Pcpe e t al. -- 1985).

The second se r i es o f 1983 was f o r t h e purpose o f i d e n t i f y l n g t h e cha rac te r i s t l cs o f a r d l c char hab i ta t s I n Quebec (Le Jeune eP al. 1984). The survey covered 13 lakes -- d i s t r i buted over several Quebec reg t ons (Table 3).

Between 1981 and 1985, 33 s a l m n r i v e r s on t h e Upper, Middle, and Lcwer North Shore were sanpled on a regu la r basis, e i t h e r rnonthly o r seasonal ly (Table 4 and Fig. 1). Samp l i ng operat lons tock i n 23 r ivers i n 1981 - 1982 and were m d l f l e d over t h e next two years:

- i n 1982-1 983 t o i nclude r i v e r s on t h e Lcwer Nor th Shore (Srcuard 1984):

- i n 1984-1985 t o canplement t h e s p a t i a l survey and i ncrease s t a t i o n dens ity on several r i v e r s t h a t were representa t i ve i n terms of ac id l ty gradl en t and sens i t i v i t y (Walsh and Vigneaul t 1986). These sanp l ing operat ions were subsequentl y i ntegrated w i t h a c t i v l t l e s f o r t h e ecologi cal m n i t o r i n g network .

Wh i l e t h e sanpl i ng operatlons were i n progress, specl f l c r l v e r stud i es were be i ng conduded (Table 2) :

- over t h e course o f 1981, m n t h l y sanp 1 i ng o f four salmon r i v e r s on t h e North Shore per- m i t t i n g assesunent o f t h e l r h igh sens i t i v i t y t o a c i d i f i c a t i o n (Srouard e t al. 1982);

- I n t h e spr lng of 1982, dai l y sanpl i ng o f water q u a l i t y i n t h e ups t rem sector o f t h e Des Esccumi ns R iver ~ a t e r s h e d p e n i tt i ng assesunent o f t h e in f luence o f hydrcmetee r o l o g i ca l condi t l o n s (Srouard e t a l . 1983);

- f r a n November 1983 t o Odober 1984, an i ntegrated study of b i o t i c and a b i o t i c canponents i n a subwatershed of t h e Des Esccumi ns R iver (Cassette R iver ) (Brcuard and Lachance 1986).

Lake env i romen ts

Resu l ts obtained thrcugh t h e surveys o f lakes i n t h e s h i e l d m k e it poss ib le t o descr ibe t h e s p a t i a l v a r i a t i o n i n physlcochem- i c a l q u a l i t y o f lake waters i n t h i s p o r t i o n o f Quebec belcw t h e 52nd para1 tel. % r e specl f i- ca l ly, these r e s u l t s a l l m i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f zones of greater o r lesser s e n s i t l v i t y t o a c l d i f i c a t i o n and detec t ion w i t h l n these zones o f a s ign i f i cant in f luence of atmospheric

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Table 3. Number o f lakes sampled f o r physicochemical q u a l i t y (1981-1983 surveys).

Quebec reg! ons 1981 1982 1983 (bases o f cperat i ona 1 a b

Schef f e r v i l l e

Blanc-Sab Ion .

Natas hquan

Havre Saint-Pierre

Sept-l i es

Ba I e-Comau

Manicouagan

Gagnon

Chute-desqasses

Alma

Roberval

La Tuque

~ u é b e c

Man Iwaki

C l ova

Senneterre

Chapais

Némi scau

Sai nt-Mi chel-des-Sai n t s

Lac Al banel

R imaiski

TOTAL

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Table 4. Salmon r l ve rs sampled under t h e F isher ies and Oceans progran, 1981-1985 ( f rcm Walsh and Vigneaul t 1986).

R i vers Wathers hed Number of s t a t i o n s drainage

( k ~ ) , 81 82 81-82 82-83 84-85

Charlevoix P e t i t Saguenq 81 7 Saguenay Lac St-Jean Sa i nte-biarguer i t e 2 132 Upper North Shore Des Esccumi ns Des Pet i t s Escouml ns Lava l Bers I m l s Aux Outardes Man i cou agan M i s tass ln i Godbcut De La rin ni té P e t i t e rin ni té Au Calumet Aux Rochers Middle North Shore Mo is ie Mat a ~ c Pigou Tortue Aux Graines A l a Chalaipe Au Tonnerre Jup i tagon Magp i e St-Jean M i ngan Romi ne De l a Cornei l l e

Lower North Shore Natashquan Wsquaro O l cmane EPamami ou Du P e t i t ~ é c a t l na Du Gros &ca t i na St-August I n

Frequency o f samples

month day m n t h quar ter mlt: werk

Number o f r ivers 4 1 2 3 2 1 15

Page 20: Effects Acid Precipitation and River Ecosystems in Quebec ... · Cffects of Acld Precipitatlon on Lake and River Ecosystems in Quebec: Revi ew of Department of Fisheries and Oceans

F lg. 1 . Geographlcal l o c a t l o n o f salmon r [ v e r s surveyed over the 1981-1985 p e r i o d a f r m Waîsh and V lgineault 1986).

Page 21: Effects Acid Precipitation and River Ecosystems in Quebec ... · Cffects of Acld Precipitatlon on Lake and River Ecosystems in Quebec: Revi ew of Department of Fisheries and Oceans

depos i t i o n on t h e physicochml ca l qua1 ity o f 1 ake envi ronmnts .

Because o f t h e improved representat ive- ness o f t h e study area (251 lakes i n 1982) and g rea te r p r e c i s i o n i n chemical assays, only t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e 1982 survey have been re ta ined

f o r i n te rp re ta t i on purposes. Hcweveî, t h e data f r m t h e 1981 and 1983 surveys a re cons i s ten t w i t h those f r m t h e 1982 survey.

The leve l o f lake m i neral i z a t ion, wh i ch i s used as an i n d i c a t o r o f s e n s i t i v i t y t o t h e e f f e d s o f ac id i f ication, var ies f a i r l y subs tan t i a l ly i n some p a r t s o f Quebec Par- tial a r l y high values are noted f o r calc iun, magnesiun, and a l k a l i n i t y i n t h e lakes o f t h e Chapais and Albanel bases and some of t h e I d t e s i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f Maniwaki (Table 51, i ndi c a t i ng t h e local presence of cal carea is depos i t s and carbonate rock. Hcuiever, 1 O& i ng a t Quebec as a whole, we see t h a t most o f t h e study area, which r e s t s on g r a n i t e o r g r a n i t e gneiss, has 1 CM res is tance t o ac id i f ication. More than 72% of t h e lakes sanpled i n 1983 e>dVlibited a l k a l i n i t y o f less than 100 uEq/L, t h e th resho l d considered by many authors t o be an i nd i ca to r o f extrgne s e n s i t i v i t y t o acid- i f i c a t i o n (8obée e t al. 1982; OME 1979).

1 f we gi ve p a r t ia 1 a r a t t e n t i o n t o 1 akes w i t h i n a s t r i p of land approximately 300 km wide extendi ng f ran the Outaaiais reg ion t o Labrador along an a x i s paral le1 t o t h e n o r t h shore o f t h e S t Lmrence River (upper p o r t i o n

o f Tab le 51, we note t h a t s e n s i t i v i t y t o acid- 1 f icat ion, estimated f ran lake m i neral i z a t i o n levels, gradual ly Increases f r a n t h e southwest t o t h e northeast, reaching a maximum i n t h e area of Sept 1 les. Calc iun and magnesiun leve ls gradual ly drcp f ran 347 and 98 uEq/L respect ive ly i n t h e Man iwak i area t o 34 and 13

uEq/L i n t h e Sept l les area. These leve ls then r i s e SI i g h t l y i n t h e Havre Sa in t P i e r r e and Blanc Sab Ion areas. This m i neral i z a t l o n g rad ien t ind ica tes t h a t c l imatic, soi 1, and physiographical fac tors canbine w l th t h e geological fea tures o f t h e r o & y subst ra te t o

exp la in t h e degree o f res i s tance t o a c i d i f i c a - t i o n .

Su l f a te concentrat ions a l so drop markedly going f r m the southwest t o t h e northeast (Fig. 2 and Table 5). I n t h e Outacuais reg ion (bases a t Maniwaki and Sa in t Michel des

Sai n ts ) , average su1 f a t e concentrat ions are tw i ce as h igh as i n t h e 1 akes o f t h e Saguenay- Lac S t Jean reg lon (Roberval, Alma, Chute des Passes) and t h e Abi t ib i -Janes Bay reg ion ( ~ h i s c a u , Chapais, Lac Al banel), and four t imes as high as i n t h e lakes o f t h e North Shore (Gagnon, Sept I les, Havre S a i n t Pierre, Blanc Sablon). According t o Harvey e t al. (1981 1, t he natura l su1 f a t e concentrat ion i n 1 akes o f t h e Canadi an Sh i e l d shoul d n o t exceed 60 uEq/L and shoul d probably be I n t h e neigh- borhood of 30 uEq/L. On t h e North Shore, observed concentrat ions (36 t o 45 uEq/L) were f a i r ly c lose t o t h e e s t imated natura l concen- t r a t ion.

I n t h e lakes o f t h e shie ld, su1 f a t e con-

cent ra t ions are considered t o be the best i ndi ca to r o f t h e in f luence of atmospherlc deposi t ion on t h e physical chemistry of t he water. Because o f t h e c h m i ca l ccmpos i t i o n o f t h e ro&y subst ra te o f t h e s h i e l d (grani te, g r a n i t e gneiss), geological s u l f a t e i npu t i s general ly Icw; we do n o t have any Ind i ca t i ons t h a t WOU 1 d exp 1 a i n t h e observed su1 f a t e grad ient f o r Quebec lakes on the bas is of bedrock geo l ogy and s u r f a c e depos l t s . Moreover, t he high l y s ign i f i can t c o r r e l a t i o n observed by Dupont and Grimard (1 985) between

su1 f ates i n Quebec lakes and s u i f ates i n p r e c i p i t a t i o n c lea r ly shcms t h e determi nant i nf 1 uence of t h i s a-tmospher i c i nvader. The h lghest concentrat ions of S O ~ - ~ i n both p r e c l p i t a t i o n and lakes are found i n t h e southwestern and western p o r t i o n s o f t h e study

area, near t h e main sources o f s u l f u r d iox ide

(S02 emissions respons ib le f o r t h e t r a n s f o n a - t i o n of H2S0,, i n ra in. These sources are pr imar i ly located a t Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, and Sudbury, Ontario, and i n t he mldwestern Uni ted States. The presence o f t h l s su1 f a t e grad ient l n Quebec lakes thus a l l m s us t o

Page 22: Effects Acid Precipitation and River Ecosystems in Quebec ... · Cffects of Acld Precipitatlon on Lake and River Ecosystems in Quebec: Revi ew of Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Table 5. Physlcochemlcal composltlon o f lakes I n t h e Canadian sh te ld (Quebec) sampled dur! ng t h e summs of 1982: reg lona l

averages (adapted frcm Lang lo ls e t al. 1985).

Bases Number Cond. cat2 M ~ + ~ A lka l B n- ~ 0 ~ ' ~ PH Al Mn Colour Dlssolved

o f q e r a t l o n s o f 1 akes (pS/cm) (pEq/L) (pEq/L) 1 ty ( I ~ E ~ / L ) (pg/L) (pg/Lf (H.u) org. car -

( ldq/L ) * i 4 (rng/L )

Manlwakl

Sa S nt-Mi chel-

des-Saints

C l ova

La-Tuque

Roberva l

A $ ma

Chute-des-l'asses

%nlcoiaagan

Gagnon

Sep%-l les

Havre-Saint-Pierre

Blanc-Sab Ion

Senneterre 1 O 15-9 62.6 24.3 18.9 83.3 5.9 108.0 16,3 31 .O 5 .2

N& 1 SC au 17 12.4 41.9 15.8 21.8 52.7 6.0 106.0 92.1 40.9 6.2

Chapal s 30 34.8 235.0 141.0 329.0 60.4 7.1 52.6 13.6 41.8 6.3

Lac Al banel 1 O 20.0 119.1 48.5 113.0 56.2 7.1 105.0 14.4 28-5 5 -6

* Tota l forms masured fsom unf i I t e red samples.

Page 23: Effects Acid Precipitation and River Ecosystems in Quebec ... · Cffects of Acld Precipitatlon on Lake and River Ecosystems in Quebec: Revi ew of Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Flg. 2, Geographlcal dlstrlbutlon of lakes In terms of sulfate concentration (pEq/h) (fromLanglols et al. 1985). --

Page 24: Effects Acid Precipitation and River Ecosystems in Quebec ... · Cffects of Acld Precipitatlon on Lake and River Ecosystems in Quebec: Revi ew of Department of Fisheries and Oceans

deduce f a i r l y c l e a r l y t h a t su1 f a t e concentra- t lons I n Iakes have i ncreased over recent decades f o l l a r i ng t h e r I s e I n S02 ml sslons.

I n a natura l envi r o m e n t n o t a f f ec ted by ac ld p rec i p l t a t l on , c h m i ca l weatherl ng of s o i l and r o & i s due t o t h e a c t i o n o f carbonic ac id on m i nera ls I n t h e basin. Under such clrwmstances, t h e major ions re leased a r e t h e ca t lons caf2, M~~~~ ~a', and K' and t h e anion HC03-: The Increase i n r a l n acld l - ty caused by

t h e presence o f s t rong aeids such as H2Ç04 apparent1 y produces accet erated weaPher i ng o f m l nerats and a h lgher 1 ncldence o f t h e ~ 0 ~ " ~ anion i n su r face waters.

I n t h e absence of r e l l able h i s t o r i e a l data, It has been d l f f i c u l t t o date t o detenni ne whether a substant i al lncrease i n c a t i o n leve ls has o c a r r e d i n t h e surface waters o f areas exposed t o ac id p rec lp l t a t i on , The presenee o f a ca lc iun and magnesim

concentrat ion g rad ien t a l ong a NE-SW axf s (Table 5 ) suggests thaP such an O ncrease rnay have taken place. I t should be mntloned, hcwever, t h a t o the r f ac to rs such as c l imate, s o i l t e x t u r e and thickness, physlography, and presence of vegetat ion a lso pt ay an expl ana- t o ry rote. For example, t h e f a i r l y Icw aver- age a l t i t u d e of lakes i n t he Maniwakf area (242 m) may p a r t i a l ly expl a i n t h e h lgh ca l c l un and magnesiun leve ls found loca l ly (Table 5). I f we exclude bog 1 akes and l akes a t a lP i tudes belar 240 m, t h e average ca l c iun concentrat ion f o r t h e 13 h igher a l t i t u d e lakes i s 182 &q/L r a t h e r than Phe f lgur-e o f 347 uEq/b recorded f o r t h e 37 lakes I n t h e Maniwakl area (Table 5). Note t h a t t h e a l t i t u d e of 240 m

reported ly corresponds w i t h t h e o r l g i na1 l evel o f t h e p r e h f s t o r l c Gatlneau g lac ia l lake a t t h e t ime o f i t s separat ion f r a n t h e Chanpl a i n Sea (Pcpe e t al. 1985).

The second e f f e c t of atmospheric t rans- p o r t a t l o n of s u l f u r ccmpounds i s gradua1 d isp l acenent o f na tura l bicarbonate ions l n surface waters by s u l f a t e ions frcm p r e c i p l t a - t ion. Th i s e f f e c t can be assessed by

examln ing t h e a l k a l i n i t y / s u l f a t e r a t i o s presented I n Flg. 3. For t h e study lakes as a whsle, a l k a t l n l i y i s considered a good approximat ion o f bicarbonate ion c o n c e n t r b t lon. The ma jo r i i y o f t h e lakes sanpled i n 1982 had a tka l i n i t y / s u l f a t e r a t i o s belar 1.0. Only t h e lakes I n t h e Chapais, Albanel, and Blanc Sab Ion areas and a number o f t h e Iakes near Manlwakl and Gagnon don ' t appear t o be a f fec ted by an excess o f s u l f a t e s i n r e l a t i o n t a b l carbonate ions.

I f we group t h e lakes i n t o t h r e e su1 f a t e c lasses (over 100, beiween 50 and 100, and

under 50 uEq/L) and examine t h e distribution s f a l ka l i n l t y / s u l f a t e r a t i o s (Table 6 ) , we o b t a i n an i nd i ca t i on o f t h e e x t e n t t o whish

Quebec lakes a re a f f ec ted i n t e m s o f vary ing leve ls of exposure t o aimospherlc sul fates. These th ree zones can a l so be c l a s s i f i e d on t h e bas is o f m d i m (zone I ), h igh (zone I I ), o r very high (zone I I I ) s e n s i t i v i t y . Table 5 s h w s t h a t t h e e f f e c t o f ac id r a i n l a being

f e l t i n t h e th ree zones, ht t o d l f f e r e n t degrees. I n zone 1, where l ake sens i tTv i t y I s Icwest, heavy exposure t o aimospheric su1 f ates r e s u l t s l n a very high p ropo r t i on o f lakes w i t h a l ka l l n i t y / s u l f a t e r a t i o s between 0.25 and1.0. I f weexclude 1 % a l t i t u d e l a k e s l n t h e Man Iwaki area, 80% of t h e remai ning lakes fa1 1 i n t o t h i s range. Zone I I , w i t h h igher s e n s i t i v i t y , a lso has a large p ropo r t i on of takes w i t h a l k a t i n i i y / s u l f a t e r a t i o s beiween 8.25 and 1 .O, b u t these r a t i o s a r e more widely d i spersed than 1 n zone 1. I n zone I I 1, where s e n s i t l v l t y I s very hlgh, we f lnd equal p r e po r t i ons o f r a t i o s above and belcw un l t y . I n sum, we see t h a t over t he whole o f t h e prov- ince Iakes are a f fec ted by s u l f a t e s of atmospheric o r lg 1 n.

When aimospheric ac id loading exceeds t h e capabl l i i y of a drainage bas 1 n t o neut ra l i ze ac ld TnpuPs, the surplus H' lons are dumped dlrecl - ly i n t o t h e water eairse. A lka l l n i i y i s then los? and pH drcpse Th i s phenanenon i s

1 l ke l y t o be found i n drainage basins where t h e bedrock i s d i f f i c u l t t o wea-ther and

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AGMOM

i

\

Flg. 3. Geographlcail d ls t r l a i t l i on of lakes I n terms of a l ka l ln lh / / su l fa te s a t l o gfrom Langiols C& ai . 1985). --

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Table6. C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f lakes by mans o f t h e a l k a l i n i t y / s u l f a t e r a t i o w l t h l n t h r e e zones o f exposure t o atmospherlc su1 f ates.

Zonea Nurnber AIkaI I n i t y / s u I f a t e r a t l o o f l akes

< 0.25 0.25 à 1 1 à 2 - > 2

I I I 5 O 1 O 15 2 1 4

(20.0) (30.0) (42.0) (8.0)

Tot a 1 172 33 93 3 1 15 (19,2) (54, l ) (18,O) (8,7)

a - z o n e 1 ( [ s o ~ ] > I O O U E ~ / L ) bases a f h n iwak i, Saint-Mi chel-des-Sai nts, Clova and l a Tuque ( w i t h t h e except ion o f peat bog a t ManIwaki ) .

- zone I 1 ( ( I s o ~ ] I nc luded between 50 and 100 uEq/L) bases a t Roberval, Alma, Chute-des-Passes and Maniccuagan.

- zone i 1 1 ( [S04] < 50 vEq/L) bases a t Gagnon, Sept-1 les, Havre Sa in t - f i e r r e and BIancSab ion.

Of t h e 10 lakes w l t h H C O ~ / S O ~ - ~ > 2, n i ne were a t a l t i tudes l ess than 240 m.

The numbers i n parentheses i nd ica te t h e percentage of t akes w i t h i n each c lass o f a IkaI i n i t y / s u I f a t e ra t i os .

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su l f u r . I t appears un l i ke l y t h a t c h m i c a l weatherlng o f t h e rocks and s o i 1s o f t h e Nor th Shore con t r i bu tes substant ia l ly t o t h e su1 f a t e content of t h e waters dra in ing t h i s p a r t o f Quebec. Observation o f wet atmospheric deposi t i o n of 17 t o 22 kg S04/ha-yr (Brouard and Lachance 1986; Grimard 19841, canbined w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s u l f a t e anion i s general ly no t trapped i n t h e watershed (SNSF 19801, a lso support t h e conclusion t h a t t h e s u l f a t e s a re essen t i a l l y o f atmospheric o r i g i n. Thus, t h e natura l concent ra t ion I n sur face waters appears t o be mal nly a t t r i b u t - ab le t o di s t a n t natural sources (volcanoes, oceans, wetl ands) and w i despread c i rcu l a t i o n o f su1 f u r i n t h e upper atmosphere (Canada- Un i ted Sta tes 1982). The observed su1 f a t e concent ra t ion ranges on t h e Midd le and Upper No r th Shore, wh lch a re on average 1.5 and 2 t imes as high, respect ively, as those found on t h e L w e r North Shore, l nd i ca te t h a t an th rcp i c su1 f u r sources may con t r i bu te 25 t o 50% of mean su1 f a t e content i n t he r i v e r s of t h e Midd le and Upper North Shore.

As noted above, one o f t h e main e f f e d s o f a c i d i f i c a t i o n of an aquat ic enviromnent by p r e c i p i t a t i o n i s gradua1 dlspl acmen t o f na tura l bicarbonate ions i n sur face waters by s u l f a t e ions f r a n p r e c i p i t a t i o n ( ~ o b k e t al.

-2- - 1982; Dickson 1975). The HC03-/S04 r a t i o thus provides an i nd i ca to r o f a c i d i f l c a t i o n i f we keep I n mind t h a t t h e denminator acccunts f o r su1 f a t e s of both natura l and anthrcp i c o r i g l n.

I n t h e r i v e r s of t h e North Shore as a

whole, H C O ~ - / S O ~ - ~ r a t i o s ca lcu la ted on an

annual bas is cover a wlde range (Table 7 ) . With t h e exception of f i ve r i v e r s i n t h e scuthwestern p o r t i o n of t h e Upper Nor th Shore and t h e Mo is ie River, m s t r i v e r s have a r a t i o under o r SI l g h t l y over 1.0. l n view of t h e lcw m a n a l ka l i n i i y values, a SI i g h t increase i n atmospheric s u l f a t e fa1 lcut, which woul d r a i se su1 f a t e concentrat ions a t t h e expense o f bicarbonates, cou l d cause a substant la l drcp i n t h e H C O ~ - / S O ~ - ~ r a t l o f o r r l v e r s thrcughout t h e North Shore. For example, on t h e Midd le

North Shore, a l l t h e r i v e t s except t h e Mo is ie would then have r a t i o s belcw 1.0. k reove r , exarni na t ion o f t h e m i nirnum HCO~'/SO< va lues

presented by Walsh and Vigneaul t (1986), gives an indication o f t h e poss ib le magnitude of t h i s drcp. A i l t h e r l v e r s sanpled, w i t h t h e exception o f t h e Moisie, e x h i b i t values under 1 .O a t some po i n t i n t h e year ly cyc le (gener- a l l y i n t h e spr lng) f o l l c w i n g f l uc tua t fons i n inputs f r a n mel twater and raln.

The annual pH range recorded f o r r i v e r s thrcughout t h e Nor th Shore (Table 7) r e f l e c t s t h e lm a l k a l i n l t y values encountered and t h e general ly lm leve 1 o f m i neral i z a t ion o f t h e waters. Re1 a t l v e l y high concentrat ions of organic anions (36% o f t o t a l anions on aver- age, according t o Walsh and Vigneaul t 1986) a l so help t o exp la ln t h e lcw pH values t h a t were general ly found.

i n envlrorrnents where a l k a l i n i i y i s Icw and large q u a n t i t i e s of sncw accumulate i n w i nter, pH i s sub jec t t o general ly substant la l va r i a t i ons dur ing t h e sp r i ng mel t period. I n several salmon r l v e r s on t h e North Shore, observations i ndicated t h a t water pH drcpped by more than one u n i t i n t h e spr ing f o l l a r i ng t h e large-scale re lease o f H' ions wh i ch had accurnul ated i n snw. m n g t h e salmon r i ve rs o f t h e North Shore, Walsh and Vigneault (1986) noted t h a t 21 r i v e r s c u t of 33 exh ib i t ed a minimum pH belar 6.0 and t h a t t h i s value was general ly ob ta i ned i n t h e spr i ng (1 n 65% of cases). Amng t h e sane r i v e r s (Flg. 11, 11 had a minimum pH o f l ess than 5.5:

Upper North Midd le North Lcwer North Shore Shore Shore

rin ni té Matanec Musquaro Aux Rochers P igou O lmane

Tor tue Du Gros Aux Gra i nes ~ é c a t i na A l a Chalcupe JupTtagon

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Table 7. beakdown of number o f s a l m n r lvers surveyed 1 n terms o f locat ion (Uppes, Mlddle os hower North Shore)

and i n tenns o f t h ree classes o f annual mean values f o r physlcochemical pa rme te rs (from Walsh and Vigneault 1986).

Number Conduct IV i t y Alkal i n l t y Su l f ates A lka l l n l t y / s u l f a t e Reglon o f (1-iS/crn) (pEq/L 1 ( PEq/L

r lvers

Number PH Co l o r A luml num

Regton o f (H.uv.) (Ug/L 1 r lvers

6,O 6-0 à 6.5 > 6.5 30 30 à 40 40 100 100 à 200 a 200

U.N.S. 12 O 5 7 3 3 6 O 2 1 O

U.N.S. Upper North Shore M.N.S. Middle North Shore L.N.S. Lowes North Shore

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Consider ing t h a t pHs of on t h e order o f 5.0 t o 5.5 can a f f e c t t he develcpment and hatching o f Salmo Salar eggs, t he re i s every reason f o r concern. I t 1s possible, f o r s o m r i ve rs , t h a t pH levels woul d have been even l w e r than those observed i f t h e spr ingt ime sanpl l ng had been conducted SI i g h t l y b e f o r e o r a f t e r t h e peak o f t h e me lt. Moreover, these pH values were measured a t t h e m u t h s o f t h e r lvers. S i nce b l carbonate leve 1s general ly d r q as one proceeds upstrem, t h e r e i s reason t o be l ieve t h a t even greater pH v a r i a t i o n s c a i l d oca i r I n t h e intermedi a t e and upper p o r t i o n s o f t h e water courses, where spawn i ng g r a n d s a r e general ly located.

To ta l a lumi num concentrat ions (unf i 1 t e r e d sanples) i n t h e r l v e r s o f t h e Nor th Shore a r e general ly h igh. Average concentrat ions ranged frcm 132 ug/L f o r t he Etanamiai R iver t o

1382 ug/L f o r t h e Sa in t Jean River. & s t r i ve rs (24 o u t o f 33) exh i b i t e d m a n values i n excess o f 200 ug/L (Table 7 ) . Extrane concen- t r a t i o n s (> 1000 ug/L) were observed mal n ly on t h e Upper Nor th Shore i n t he nor theast Sa in te Marguerite, Des Esccumi ns and Laval r ivers and pa r t i cu t a r l y i n t h e Sa in t Jean R ive r on t h e Midd le North Shore.

The speci a t ion of the al umi num present was no t indlcated. I n view o f c o l a i r values (between 25 and 45 Heu. on average; Table 7 1 , d isso lved organ ic carbon leve ls (between 4 and 8 mg/Lf, and pH tevets (> 5-51, aluminum l n t h e organ ic form probab ly predani nates i n most o f t h e r lvers. . I n t h e watershed o f t h e Casset te R i ve r dur i ng t h e spr i ng me l t per i od, Campbel 1 e? al. (1984) found t h a t o rgan ic + adsorbed alumi num was t h e preva lent form.

The r e l a t i v e i ncidence o f moncmer i c i nor- ganic alurni num AI'^, aluminum hydroxldes, and a lumi num f 1 uor ides) var i es accordi ng t o pH. I t can be assumd t h a t t he f o n s AI'^, A I (OH)+~ , and AI(OHI2+ predanlnate a t pH 5.0 t o 5.2, w h i l e a t pH over 6.5 t h e f o n AI(OHl4- i s prevalent. The quan t l t l es o f these forms I n t h e waters o f North Shore r ivers a re worthy

o f study because o f t h e t o x i c i t y of c e r t a i n forms (such as ~ 1 ' ~ ) f o r aquat ic l l f e (Van Co i l l i e e t al. 1984). --

I n sum, as a whote, t h e salmon r i v e r ~ on t h e North Shore of t h e S t Lawrence e x h i b l t very h igh s e n s i t i v l t y t o t h e e f f e d s o f ac id i - f i c a t i o n because o f t h e very lw leve l o f m l neral i z a t ion o f t h e waters and t h e 1 l m i t e d bu f fe r i ng capaci ty o f t h e watersheds. The west-east gradl e n t f o r su1 f a t e concentrat ions Ind ica tes t h a t t h e area i s inf luenced by d is tan? sui f u r sources t o t h e southwest. For mast o f t h e r ivers, atmospher i c su1 f a t e depo- s l t i o n appears t o be approxirnately 20 kg S04/ha-yr, wh ich I s t h e acceptable thresho t d suggested by t h e Canada-ün i ted States work l ng grcup (1982) f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f mdera te l y sens i t i ve aquat ic b iota. A S I i g h t increase i n aimospheric s u l f a t e fa1 lait cou ld r e s u l t i n a cons iderab l e decrease i n t h e H C O < / S O < ~ r a t i o and a substant ia l r i s e i n r i v e r ac id i t y .

Moreover, t h e r i v e r s of t h e Nor th Shore a re sub jec t t o pronainced pH drcps dur ing t h e mel t period, w i t h pH fa1 l i n g t o b e l w 5.5 i n rnany. These seasonal f l u c t u a t i o n s and the presence o f h igh leve ls o f metals c a i l d beccme c r l t l c a l f o r f i sh .

R i ve r env irorinents: speci f i c stud i es

The f i r s t spec i f i c r i v e r study was conducted t o d e t e n i ne t h e s e n s i t i v i t y t o a c I d i f f c a t i o n o f four s a l m n r i v e r s on t h e North Shore: t h e Pe t it Saguenay, Sainte- Marguerite, Des P e t i t s Esccumi ns, and Des Escaimi ns r ivers. More speci f i c a l ly , the study b r a i g h t t o 1 i g h t seasonal d i f ferences i n t h e physlcochemical q u a l i t y of t he water i n these r i v e r systans wh i l e s t ress ing the con t r i bu t Ions of aimospheric i nputs and c e r t a i n hydrcineteorologl cal cond i t ions encan - t e red during t h e s m p l i n g per lod (Brouard e t al. 1982; Van C o i l l i e e t a l . 1982). --

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The study a l so i nciuded a de ta i led i nter - p r e t a t i o n (Lachance e t al. 1983) o f v a r i a t i o n s i n su l fa te , calc lun, n i t r a te , and H' ion con- cen t ra t i ons i n t h e Sai nte-Margueri t e R i ve r (Flg. 4) and a desc r i p t i on of t h e processes governlng t h e physlcochenical c m p o s l t i o n o f t h e waters dur i ng t h e s p r i ng mlt.

The premature m l t s t a r t i n g I n l a t e February appears t o have t r l gge red t h e migra- P ion o f ions i n thesncw. The drcp i n s u t f a t e concentrat ions a t t h e s t a r t o f t h e mekt p e r l s d apparent1 y corresponds w i t h a decrease I n su1 f ates f r a n sncw reserves f o l lcwi ng I h e f l r s t mlt. The subsequent lncrease I n su1 f a tes dur ing and a f t e r t h e m l t co inc ides w i t h t h e m l t i n g o f t h e ned reserves o f sncw which acamul ated dur ing t h e m n t h o f March. For calc iun, t h e peak observed a t t h e very s t a r t o f t h e me l t corresponds w i t h p i s t o n f lm o f water t h a t had been i n prolonged contac t w i t h t h e m i nerals of t he watershed. The i ncrease i n H+ i on concentrat ions on ly becane âubstant ia l on one occasion (pH 509); t h i â

ncrease, wh i ch oca i r red a t t h e end o f t h e f i r s t spr i ng f 1 oodl ng, can be expl a i ned by t h e e led-roneutral condi t i o n i n these waters. For n i t r a tes , va r i a t i ons are m r e d i f f i c u l t t o i n t e r p r e t b u t maximum observed leve ls over t h e spr i ng show t h e in f luence o f n i t r a t e s acaimu- I a ted i n t h e sncw and re leased dur ing t h e me l t per iod.

The goal o f t h e second spec i f i c r i v e r study was t o detenni ne w i t h g reater p r e c l s ion t h e i nf 1 uence of spr i ngtlme hydraneteoroleg- i ca t cond i t ions on da l l y va r i a t i ons i n t h e physicochenIcal q u a l f t y of waters i n t h e upstrean sec tor of t he Des Esccumi ns R ive r (Brcuard e t al. 1983; Lachance e t ai. 1987). Over t h e m n t h s of March and Apr i l , sur face water sanpl es were taken dai l y a? th ree s t a t i o n s on t h e main sec t i on o f t h e r i v e r and a t t h ree s t a t i o n s on m a l l watershed t r i b u - ta r ies .

Analys i s of obsewed va r i a t i ons and i n te r re la t i onsh lps beiween s t a t ions f o r each

o f t h e measured paraneters made i t pess i b l e t o character ize t h e spat iotenpora 1 dynami CS of water physIcochanicaI qua1 ity d i r i n g the s p r l n g mel t . F i n d i n g s i n c l u d e d t h e f o l I c w i ng:

- s ta t i ons on t h e main sec t i on o f t h e Des Escarni ns R ive r recorded s i m i i a r behwloidrg

- dur ing t h e mi t period, t h e t r i b u t a r l e s w i t h smal l watersheds a r e subJect t o much greater wat-er qual lty f i uc tua t l ons than t h e Ia rger t r i bu ta r i es , even where t h e base a l k a I l n i 9 level ( i n w l n ter t lme) i s h igher;

- p r e v a i l l n g spî ingt ime cond i t ions i n small tr ibutar ies, where spawn l ng g r a n d s are o f t en l ocated, cannot be extrapo 1 ated f r m i n f o n a t i o n on t h e main sec t i on o f t h e sane water ccurse;

- s m of t h e cond i t ions observed dur! ng t h e spr i ng o f 1982, i nclud l ng strong f 1 uctua- t i o n s i n pH, a l ka l i n l t y , and aluminum content, suggest a p o t e n t i a l r i s k f o r salmonids i n t h e longer term, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n smal 1 watershed tri bu ta r ies .

During t h e pe r l od frcm November 1983 t o October 9984, an i ntegrated study was conduc- t e d ( B r a a r d and Lachance 19869 fn to b i o t i c and a b l o t i e ccxrgenents i n a subwatershed o f t h e Des Esecllml na R ;ver (Casset te R l v e r ) . One o f t h e primary obJecPives o f t h e study was t o determlne t h e con t r i bu t l ons o f t he v a r i a s b l o t l c and a b i o t i c components t o t h e ab! 1 ffy Po neu t ra l i ze aimospherlc a c i d depos i t ion over a sma 1 1 watershed (40 km2).

Amng the a b l o t i c cmponents wh i ch p l ay an important r o t e !n r e l a t l o n , t o t h e p h y s i c e c h m i c a l canposl t lon of t h e waters o f t he Cassette River, watershed s o l l p r c p e r t i e s and p r e c i p i t a t i o n physicochenicat qual ity received p a r t i c u 1 a r at tent ion.

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I I I ~ l l l l l ~ l l ' I ' ~ l l l l l ~ l " l l ~ l l l l l ~ l l l ' l ~ l l l l l

January February March April M ay June July August

Fig. 4. T l m v a r i a t i o n I n r a t e o f f la* and calcium, su l fa te , n i t r a t e and h y d r o p n i on concentra- t i o n s f o r t h e Salnte-Marguerite R i ve r ( f r m B r a i a r d e i al. 1982).

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Among t h e s o i l s i d e n t i f i e d I n t h e Cassette R i ve r watershed (podzols, brun lsols, organ l c so i ls, and regoso 1s) , humo-ferrlc and ferro-humi c podzo 1s predani na te ( B r a a r d e t al. 1984). Resu l ts f r a n analyses o f four -- podzols a re shmn l n Table 8.

The podzols a re usual ly f o m d , a t t h e surface, of a f a i r l y t h i d c layer o f f o r e a t humus (LW horizons) where both organ ic aclds and bases bfgf2, ~'9 are released* The presence o f these aclds, canbt ned w i th leach ing o f t h e bases, con t r i bu tes t o t h e c r e a t lon of very ac id condi t i o n s ( m e n pH: 3.0) I n t h l s su r face organ lc layer. The Ae m l neral horizon, wh l ch forms a layer d i r e c t l y belcw t h e L M horizon, p lays an important r o t e w i t h rega rd t o mobi 1 i z a t i o n o f rnetals such as A l and Fe because o f i t s a c i d i - t y (mean pH: 3.38). The 8 mlneral hor izons ( 8 d iagnost ic and 3C) a r e where organmeta l 1 i c comp 1 exes i nvolv i ng i r o n and alumi num are

f ormed. Organ i E carbon, i ron, and a l uml num 1 evels a r e general ly substanPlalo

aecause of i t s s t rong presence l n s o l 1s and i t s high degree o f c h m i c a l a c t i v i t y , aluminum plays a major r o t e l n c o n t r o l l i n g po ten t i a l a c l d i t y f o r aquat ic organisns. I t i s t he re fo re important t o k n w t o what ex ten t and i n what forms alumi num l s 1 eached and ends up I n r i v e r s and lakes.

l nteres t ing r e s u l t s on t h l s sub jec t a re provided by HendershoP e t al. (19841, who s tud led aluminurn spec la t ion and movment i n t h r e e watei-sheds of southern Quebes The authors shcwed t h a t dur i ng i ntens ive hydro log- i cal events so i 1 s o l u t ion pH decreases wh l l e t h e s o l u b l e aluminum l e v e l increases. Moreover, dur i ng such events, alumi num conPent i n surface waters was 1 inked t o t h a t i n t h e so i1 solution. I t would appear t h a t t h e chenlcal p rcpe r t i es of upper so i 1 horlzons located near water ca i r ses govern movements o f alumi num tcward sur face waters.

1 n assessi ng t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f atmo- spher lc inputs t o t h e physlcochemical qual l t y o f sur face waters i n a drainage basln, it i s importanP t o k n w not only t h e m a n physlco- c h m i c a l composition of local p r e c i p l t a t i o n bu? a l s s t h e physlcochemical qual i t y o f g r w n d sncw and t h e t fme v a r i a t i o n i n s n m qual i t y as we l 1 as t h e e f f e c t s o f i n tercept ion o f p rec lp- i t a t ion by f o r e s t cover.

Mean concentrai lon va lues masured i n p r e c l p l t a t i o n over t he study pe r l od fa1 l w i t h l n t h e range of values obtalned by t h e Quebee p r e c i p i t a t i o n sanp 1 i ng nehiork (REF'O - es eau dv véchant i 1 tonnage des précl i t a t l o n s du Quebec; Grimard 1984). Measured 1 eve 1s f o r s u l f a t e s (2.9 t o 131.2 uEq/L) and pH (3.7 t o 5.0) conf irm t h a t t h e study area i s sub jec t t o subs tan t i a l ac id fa1 lait.

3 r w a r d and Lachance (1986) have shcwn

t h a t i n tercept lon o f p r e c i p l t a t i o n by f o r e s t cover can s i g n l f i cant ly m d i f y t h e physico- c h m i c a l ccmpssit ion o f sncw p r e c i p i t a t i o n ; t h e e f f e c t was even m r e pronainced w i t h g r a n d sncw (Table 9) . Mean va lues o b t a l ned under f o r e s t cover are s i g n i f i can t l y h igher than those obtalned i n c lear ings f o r a l1 masured c h m i c a l var iab les (CI-, S O ~ ' ~ , ~a', KZ', ~ 4 ~ ' ~ ) . Two hypotheses rnay exp 1 a i n t h i s

increase I n s o i ) Ion concentrat lons under fores* cover:

- an exchange process wiPh organ ic mat ter frcm t h e trees, wh Tch c a l d expl a i n t h e concen- + r a t i o n increases f o r ions such as potas- s l m ;

- a physical process r e l a t e d t o i n s o l a t i o n and therma t exchanges w i t h t h e atmosphere, wh i ch woul d p r o d c e slower migra t ion o f ions under f o r e s t cover.

Cxaml nat ion o f t h e hydrochenical ba l ance OP a watershed i s an essent ia l approach t o understandl ng t h e mvement and c i r a 1 a t i o n o f

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Table 8. b a n chernical corrposltions from analyses o f four h u m r f e r r l c podzols taken a t four s ta t i ons i n t h e watershed o f t h e Cassette

River (1983) ( f r a n Brcuard and Lachance 1986).

Exchangeab l e cat ions Total C.E.C. ac i dl t y

Hor i zon PH C Fe AL Fe+AL as% N t o t a l CaC l2 % A 1+3 M ~ + ~ K+ CH' e t ~ 1 ' ~ ) A B A B %

% mEq/100 g

C.E.C.: ca t l on i c exchange -va luesco lumnA: ( c ~ ' ~ , M ~ ' ~ , K + , A I + ~ ) - values colurnn B: (cat2, K+) + t o t a l a c i d i t y

BS: bases - satura t ion ra te :

- column A: ): exchangeable cat ions ( ~ a ' ~ , Mg+', K') x 100 C.E.C. (colurnn A )

- column B: y exchanaeable cat ions (caf2. K') x 100 C.E.C. (column 0 )

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n u t r i e n t s and m i nerats l n an ecosysten, For t h e 1983-1984 hydrologlcal year, riet atmo- spher ic fa1 l c u t f o r a l 1 carponents was 29 kg/ha, i nc1.ud l ng 17 kg/ha-yr a t t r i b u t a b l e t o s u l f a t e s (Table 10). This value i s c l ose t o t h e maximum of 20 kg/ha-yr recanmnded by t h e Canada-ünited States workl ng grcups (1982) f o r t h e p r o t e d l o n of aquatic envi rorments Phat a re rmderately sens i t i ve t o a c i d i f i c a - t Ion.

Study of t h e hydrocheni ca l ba l anse prov lded a bas ls f o r e l a s s l f l c a t l o n o f maJor l ons l n t h r e e categor les:

- substances f o r whlch atmospherlc i n p u t s a r e

g rea te r than exported mass CH', NO3", NH~');

- substances f o r which atmospherlc i npu ts a r e approximately equal t o exported mass (Cl-, s % " ~ ) ; and

- substances f o r wh lch atmospheric i npu ts a r e m c h m a l l e r than t h e mass exported t o t h e o u t l e f (cat2, M~*', ~a', K', HCO3-).

Exami nat ion of t ime var iat ion, over t h e me l t perlod, i n pH, calcfun, bicarbonate, and s u l f a t e concentrat ions (F ige 51, and aluminum spec ia t l on (F ige 61 penni ts I den t l f i eaP lon o f c e r t a l n important processes wh l ch take p l aes dur tng t h e spr ing t h m . The substant la l drcp i n bicarbonates ( f r m 168 40 27 uEq/b9 whlch ocar rs thrcughout t h e ascendent phase o f t h e sp r l ng runof f hydrograph (Apr l 1 4 t o May 9) i ndicates t h a t t h e neut ra l i z a t i o n capac l i y o f t h e Casset te R iver watershed i s barely s u f f l c i e n t i n sprlngtime when i npu ts o f mel twater and r a i n a r e received. The drq , 1 n pH, although less proncunced, f o l l w s t h e decrease l n bicarbonates. The two m l nlmum values (6.0 u n l t s i were obtalned a t t h e t ime o f t h e f i r s P f l o o d peak, on A p r l I 29 and May 2 (Fig. 51.

On t h e bas l s o f t h e canpl ementary study conducted by Campbe 1 1 e t a l . ( 1 984), t t WOU 1 d appear t h a t o rgan lc + adsorbed a luml num i s t h e p redminan t form of t h e m t a l dur ing the spr ing m l t (Fig. 6 ) The authsrs suggest t h a t t h e S I i g h t lncreases l n alumlnum leve ls observed over t h e sp r l ng l nd i ca te t h a t t he bas in rmst conta in an alumi num wreservo i r * which reaets q u f d t l y & r i n g t h e high water period. The upper layer of so i 1, which contalns water w i t h h lgh aluminum and organlc matter content, cou1 d serve as t h e alumi num reservolr . The observed peak concentration f o r t o t a l aluml num (176 ug/L) cou ld be due t o i ncreâsed i npu t o f sedlmentâ I n suspension ( p a r P l a i l a t e A l ) r a t h e f t han geochmlcal mobl- I ImaPlon o f d isso lved aluminum. For monomerlc l norganic alumi num (d la l yzab le and ex t rac tab le alumlnum), t h e an ion ic form AI(OH)C c l e a r l y predani nates over t h e o the r forms (hydrow 1, su l fa te , and f l uo r i de complexes).

Time v a r i a t i o n i n su1 f a t e concentrat ions (F ige 5) dl f f e r s f r a n t h a t observed f o r c a l c i m , bicarbonates, and pH. The maximum (75 uEq/bi was reached aP t h e very begl nnlng o f t h e m l P perfod. Subsequently, levels tapered o f f gradua1 ly t o about 50 uEq/L u n t i l t h e s t a r t o f May.

Analysls of seasonal v a r i a t i o n i n atmo- spher ic lnputs and exports of su1 fa tes (Fige 79 ylelcis a b e t t e r understanding o f t h e e l fa l a t l o n o f t h l s anlon and l t s fmpoftance I n a c l d l f l c a t l o n processese We saw above t h a t on an annual bas ls atmospherlc s u l f a t e inputs a re p r a c t i c a l ly equal t o exports. He can deduce frcm t h i s observat ion t h a t geologlcal Inputs are negl i g i b l e and that, on an annual basls, Phe su1 f a t e anlon i s n o t t rapped I n t h e watershed. Over t h e s p r l ng, t h e quant l ty exported becanes t w i c e as high as t h e atmo- spher lc input. Th i s s u l f a t e d e f i c l ? i s greater than t h e surp lus accumulated over t h e w in ter i n snw. A r e l a t l v e t y high propopPlon o f t h e su1 f ates r e t eased i n to sur face waters sha i l d t he re fo re c m f r a n s u l f a t e s accumu- 1 ated i n t h e so i 1 over t h e summr and fa1 1. Th is ana lys is o f seasonal v a r i a t i o n i n s u l f a t e

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Table 9. Physicochemlcal composltlon o f p r e c i p l t a t l o n and ground snow from c l e a r i ng and fo res t locations. ( f r m Erouard and

Lachance 1986).

I n c l ea r l ng Under f o r e s t cover

Laca l G r a n d sncw Local G r a n d sncw

prec l p- prec l p-

Paraneters l t a t l o n m a n value I t a t Ion Mean value

(man (man

W l n ter ) 13/12 27/03 17/04 W i n te r ) W l n t e r 13/12 27/03 17/04

07/02 03/04 25/04 07/02 03/04 25/04

W i n te r 06/03 10/04 02/05 06/03 1 0/04 02/05

H+ WEq/L)

Conduct l v l t y (pS/cm)

NO3 (LlEq/L)

CI- (pEq/L )

soc2 (pEq/L)

NH; ( P E ~ / L )

~ a + (pEq/L)

K+ (LlEq/L)

~ a + ~ ( P E ~ / L )

~ g + 2 (pEq/L)

1 cat ions ( p ~ q / ~ )

anions (pEq/L)

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Table 10. Hydrochemf ca l ba lance o f t h e Cassette R i ve r watershed ( f r a n Brcuard and bachance 1986).

Par m e t e r s Atmospheric 1 ~ u a n t l i y ' Bal anse

- l npuP ( k g h a ) ( k g h a ) (kg/ha9

Tota l 29.1 89 .O 59.9

Equations r e l a t i ng t o t h e ca l c u l a t l o n o f atmospheris i npu t and o f q u a n t i t y exported a r e presented by Btcuard and Lachance (19859.

For N H ~ , t h e mean concent ra t ion o f 0,04 mg/\ i s f r a n by Brcuard e t a l . (1982) f o r t h e Des Escoumi ns i n 1981.

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F l g . 5 . T l m vnr la t lon I n r a t e of f l o t , pH and calclun, bicarbonate and s u l f a t e concentraDlon for

t h e Cassette R lve r (spr lng 1984) ( frcm B r m a r d and Lachance 1986).

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150

12 5

ab----CI ExtractabSe A! Dlla%yzahbl@ and sxtaectabl

10 O

CI

dl 1

9 w '75

Coi%oidill AiaPasticulade Al

E + P O $ ~ W U C % ~ J I I P Al 9 c - E a

Ba

Osganic A% + Adnosbec! AB

2 5

Monomerle Elnosgasaic Al

ab----CI ExtractabSe A!

Dlla%yzahbl@ and sxtaectabl

Coi%oidill AiaPaaticulade Al n I I P A O P ~ ~ S ~ I O P I I ~ A(

Fig . 6. T S m varla%ion l n alurnllaiurn spec ia t lon I r a t h e s u l f a f e waters o f t h e h s s e a % e RBws (spring 1984) bfrm Campbel 8 e t al. 8984). --

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- Winter Spring

" i 0 Winter Spring

Summer Autumn

Value

quanti! y exported atmospheric input

FIg. 30 Seasonel v a r l a t l o n I n a f m x p h e r l c I n p u t s and expor ta of nitrates, su1 f a fes and c a l c l m f o r t h e C a s s e t t e 8 i v e r (1983-1984) ( f rm S r a i â r d and Lachance 1986).

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grcups: Ch Io rcp hyta, Chrysophyta, Cyancphyta, Pyrrcphyta, and Eug lencphyta (Richard, 1983). Gener i c d i vers iiy of phytopl ankton drcps o f f i n t h e s tudy area as a c i d i t y increases (Lang lo is e t al. 1983). The average number o f genera i s 13.2 i n 1 akes o f pH between 4.5 and 5.0 and 17.0 where pH i s between 7.5 and 8.0 (Fig. 7).

To ta l abundance a l s o seems t o be a f f e d e d by lake pH. The h ighest m a n t o t a l abundance o c a r s a t pH between 6.0 and 7.0 (F ige 81, Accordi ng t o Lang lo is 2 (1983), IP appears t h a t t h e canposi t lon o f phytcpl ankton ccmrmnit ies I n these lakes e x h i b i t s a popula- t i o n s t r u c t u r e q u i t e simi l a r t o t h a t o f env i romen ts undergolng ac id i f i ca t i on . Th i s asser t ion rmst be cons idered w i t h reserva- t ions, hcwever, s i nce a f 1 ash survey conducted on on ly one occas ion i n each 1 ake cannot y i e l d a t r u e p o r t r a i t o f t h e phytoplankton canmini?, (wh ich i s k n w n t o Vary substant ia l ly over t h e s m m r , both qua1 i t a t i v e l y and ' q u a n t i t a t l - vely 1.

The resul t s of t h e phytopl a rk ton survey o f 54 lakes i n 1982 shcw gradua1 replacenent o f Cyancphyta, which are dcmlnant i n t h e western po r t i ons of t h e provi nce (Man Iwaki ) , by Chrysophyta, which a re more abundant on t h e North Shore. Ch lo rcphyta a re ra re l y dcmi nant except I n t h e lakes o f t h e N&ni scau area and c e r t a i n 1 akes on t h e North Shore (Man Tcaiagan, Havre Sa in t P ier re) . On t h e bas is o f t o t a l ce1 1 abundance and number o f taxons, D ~ S ! 1 ePs (1984) and P i n e l - A l l a i l and ! & - h o t (1985) dent i f led t h r e e 1 arge homogenecus regions:

- t h e North Shore, characterized by l û i e r phytoplankton denslty (1.1 t o 1.9 x 106 ce1 l s / l i t r e ) and species d i v e r s i t y (17 t o 24 taxons) than e lsewhere;

- t h e western cent ra l reg ion (Maniwaki, La Tuque, N&i scau, and Senneterre), represen- t e d by a very large number o f taxons (26 t o

29) and very hlgh phytopl ankton densl ty (3.3 t o 4.2 x 106 ce1 l s / l i t r e ) ;

- t h e Chapais region, which e x h i b l t s t h e h ighest popu la t ion dens i ty (4.9 t o 8.7 x 106 ce1 l s / I i t r e ) and t h e l a rges t number of speci es (30 t o 42 taxons 1.

P i net-Al lai 1 and ~ é t h o t (1985) suggested t h e existence o f empi r ica l r e la t i onsh lps between p hytopl ankton species and morphcmetr i c variables. I t was a l so noted t h a t t h e abundance o f Cyancphyta, Chl orcphyta, and some Chrysophyta ccu ld be 1 l r k e d t o t h e l ong i t ud l - na1 gradient, t r c p h i c enrichment, shal lûiness, and smal 1 volume o f lakes. However, Chrysophyta appear t o be m r e abundant i n t h e deep lakes o f t h e North Shore. The authors spec i fy t h a t t h e suggested c o r r e l a t i o n s do no? r e f l e c t a cause and e f fed - r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e Iwo types o f descr ip tors (phyto- p la rk ton and m r p h m t i y ) s ince t h e mrphoms- tr Tc paraneters a c t on ly i ndi r e c t 1 y by cond i t ion ing n u t r l e n t inputs and b i o l o g i c a l p r o d u d i v i t y i n t h e 1 akes.

Moreover, t h e p r i nc i pa 1 component analysis ca r r i ed o u t by Pinel-AI lai l and i 6 t h 0 t (1985) ind ica ted t h a t t he lakes w i t h t h e highest IeveIs of m ine ra l i za t i on and a l ka l i n l t y s u p p r t e d t h e phytopl ankton cornmi- n i t i e s w i t h t h e h i g h e s t d e n s i t i e s f o r Cyancphyta and Ch lorcphyta. I n contrast, ac ld lakes w i t h h lgh alumlnum contenP s h w very I û i d l v e r s i i y and species abundance. I n addi t ion, t ransparent lakes have very Icw phytoplankton p r o & c t i v I t y wh i te colcured lakes w i t h hlgh l r o n and organic carbon leve ls conta in m r e phytopl ankton, i n p a r t i c u l a r Chrysophyta and m i c ro f l age 1 1 ates.

On t h e whole, t h e mul t id imenslonal ana l ys l s o f phytcplankton v a r l a b i l i t y i n t e n s of physico- c h m i c a l va r i a t i ons i n t h e water conf i n e d c e r t a i n emplr lcal r e l a t l o n s h i p s already noted by o ther authors i .e. dec 1 i nt ng abundance and

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Table 11: Number o f lakes sampled f o r phytoplankton (PH), zooplancton (ZO) , benthos (BE) and f i sh (FI 1 (surveys and s p e c i f i c s tud ies 1981-1983).

Survey s Speci f i c Studl es

Quebec regi ons 1981 1982 1983 1983

Skef f e r v l l l e

B l anesab l on

Natashquan

Havre Sa in t -P ier re

Sept-l les

Bai e-Comau

Manicouagan

Gagnon

Chute-deâ-Passes

Al ma

Roberval

L a Tuque

~ u é b e c

ManIwaki

Çenneterre

Chapais

N&nl scau

TOTAL

* The d i s t r 1 bu t ion amng reg lons of 176 l akes sampled fo r phytoplankton i s s l m i l a r t o Pha? for t h e lakes sanpled f o r physicochgnicai qua1 i i y (c f . Table 3 ) .

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n = number of takes

F fg . 8: Phytcpl a k t o n . %an number of genera and m a n t o t a l abundance by ;>H c l a s s ( f r cm L a n g l o f s e t al. 1985). --

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I n 1981, CFO-Quebec todc sanples of

zooplarkton I n 37 lakes d l s t r l b u t e d almost u n i formly over t h e bases of cperatfons enployed f o r t h e physicochemical survey o f 198 I &es i n t h e Canadian Shield. I n a l 1, 35 species were recorded (13 Rot i fera, 13 Cladocera, and 9 Ccpepoda). F i v e specles a r e present i n more than 70% o f t h e lakes, and t h e

most abundant o f these species I s t h e ccpepod Leptodlaptanus mlnutus. bang l o i s e t a l - (1983) noted t h a t t h e d i v e r s l i y o f zooplarkton commun i t e s dec 1 i nes w i t h i ncreased pH (Fig. 9). At pH over 5.5, t h e observed average was 1 1.3 specles p e r l ake wh l le, aP pH

b e l w 5.5, t h e number o f species d r q s gradua1 ly t o an average o f 8.7 i n lakes w l t h pH under 5.0. Cladocerans and cyc l q o f d ccpepods are t h e m s t s e n s i t i v e t o pH drcps: t h e average number of species i s 1.8 a t pH b e l w 5.0 and 4.8 a t pH over 7.0.

Among t h e c ladocerans, t h e genus Daphnla contalns t h e species m s t sens i t i ve t o Icw pH: no specles f r a n t h i s grcup a re enccun- t e red a t pH under 5.0. Other s tud ies conducted i n Canada and Sweden (Spru l es, 1975; RadAm e t al. 1980) conf irm these resul t s f o r -- c ladocerans. Specles o f t h e ca l anold ccpepod grcup appear t o be f a i r l y r e s i s t a n t t o acid i?/ . The main species of t h i s grcup, Leptod l aptanus m i nutus, acccunts f o r 40% of t h e popul a t i o n i n more than 46% of t h e lakes studied. These r e s u l t s are supported by Harvey e t al. (1981 9 , who noted t h a t t h l s i s one o f t h e canmnest specles I n acfd lakes o f t h e Canadi an Sh i e l d. For ro t l f e rans , r e l a t i v e ahndance i ncreases cons iderab ly I n ac id l akes wh f l e t h a t o f c ladocerans and cyc i o l d ccpepods

decreases (Fig. 10).

During t h e 1982 nat iona l survey, a t o t a l o f 50 zocpl a rk ton species were i d e n t i f ied (21 Rot i fera, 17 Cladocera, and 12 Ccpepoda) by P ine l -A l lcu l and Codin-Blumer (1983). These authors noted i ncreased specl es d ivers 1 ty among these ccmnunft les f o l l w l n g a long i tud l - na1 east-west gradient. The lakes w i t h t h e h lghest zocplankton ccunts (100 x l o 3 org/m3) a re located I n t h e northwest (Chapais,

ni scau, Senneterre), wh i l e t h e lakes w i t h

t h e lcwest ccunts (20 x 1030rg/rn3) are general ly I n t h e southwest (Maniwakl), t h e cen t re (La Tuque and Chute des Passes), o r t h e e a s t (Manlccuagan and Havre Sai nt+ i e r re ) of t h e study area. I n terms of mrphometry, Pinel-Al l cu l and &+hot (1985) observed t h a t small, s h a l l w lakes w i t h h lgh m ine ra l i za t i on leve ls i n t h e west prodiced high zocplarkton blanass d e n s i t l e s and m l n l y harbaired c m m - n i t i e s dani nated by ccpepods (Leptod iaptanus), wh 1 l e t h e deep, O 1 i go t rcph i c l akes o f t h e e a s t (Hav re S a i n t P i e r r e , Sept i les, and Manlccuagan) contained zocpl arkton canmni t l e s w l t h lcw densi iy and bianass daninated by r o t 1 ferans. Overal 1 r e l a t ionsh ips between physicochemlcal and zocpl a rk ton l c var iab les d i d no t permi t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f a r e l a t l o n - s h i p between env i ronmen ta l a c l d i t y and zoopl a rk ton dens i iy o r b l m a s s except I n t h e case o f cyclcpoids, f o r v/hich populat ions decrease i n t h e ac ld lakes o f t h e northeast, and r o t 1 ferans, f o r wh ich abundance l ncreases I n colcured, ac ld lakes (Pinel-Al Icul and G t h o t 1985) .

Durlng t h e 1983 survey, 24 specles o f pe lag i c zocplankton were i d e n t l f l e d i n t h e 50 lakes smp l ed. Most of the zocpl ankton canmin l t ies enccuntered, i n both ac id and non-acid lakes, were dminated by a s i n g l e species of herb ivora is cal anoid ccpepod, Lep tod iap tomus mlnutus , wh !ch probab l y receives qu i t e l i ttl e predat ion pressure f r a n t h e v a r i a i s f i s h specles (Pcpe e t al. 1985). Except I n one lake, t h e authors d ld not observe d l sp lacmen t of t h l s species by a l a rge r herbivorcus ccpepod when predat lon by f i s h was i n e x i s t e n t o r l i m l t e d . T h i s cont ras ts w i t h t h e Eurcpean experience where, according t o Er ikson e t al. (1980), large herbivorcus ccpepods dani nate ac ld l akes t h a t have l o s t t h e i r f lsh. Pcpe e t al. (1985) shwed t h a t zocplankton c rnm in i t i es i n lakes of t h e Manlwakl area bear a c loser resenb lance t o those o f neutrat and a l ka l [ne lakes than t o t h o s e o f ac id lakes i n t h e s e p t I l e s area. I t was a l so noted t h a t contrary t o t h e pred ic - t l o n s o f m s t t r c p h i c m d e l s (Brocks and Dodson 1965; Z a r e t 1980) zoop 1 a n k t o n

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Rotifera Copepoda ( calanoida 1

Cladocera Copepoda ( cyclopolda 1

Ffg. 9: Zooplanktono %an nunber of specles by pH c lass (from Langlo is & al. 1983).

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n = number of lakes

701 aI Rotlfera

3

c ) Copepoda ( cyclopolda ) a 2 20

601 4 ) Copepoda I sa lanolda 1

F ige 10: Re la t i ve abundance o f d l f f e r e n t zooplankton g r m p s as a f unc t l on o f pH

( f rcm Lang lo ls e t a l . 1983).

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cannun i t ies I n whlch la rge cladocerans a re abundant are m r e c lose ly associated w i t h lakes contain ing f i s h than w i t h f l s h l e s s l akes.

Benthos

The l n f luence of ac id p r e c i p i t a t l o n on benthos has been s tud ied m l n l y i n Norway, Sweden, and Phe Unl ted Klngdan. The d i r e c t causes o f changes no-fed i n benth ic c m m n l t l e s have no? been c l e a r l y established; ?t I s m a t canmanly bel ieved thaP pH e x e r t s an i n d i r e c t e f fe& on aval l ab 1 l l ty o f food, predatlon, and conpetl-flon (Harvgr f ai. 1989).

I n t h e 1981 nat ional survey, t h e absence o f sanples taken a t v a r i a i s depths and t lmes o f t h e year encairaged Lang l o i s e t a l . (1983) t o proceed w i th caut ion i n i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e r e s u l t s obtained f o r t he 35 lakes sanpled ( ~ é n a r d 1982). None t h e less, t h e resu l t s d l d p e n i t i d e n t l f i c a t ion o f c e r t a i n t rends w l t h regard Po t h e In f luence o f t h e phys lcochmlca l qua1 fiy o f water on t h e canpos l t ion o f benth ic ccmnun i t les. Moreover, exami na t i on o f benthos i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e phys icochmica l composit ion o f sedlments d ld not y i e l d any s i g n i f i c a n t

c o r r e l a t i o n (Lang l o i s e t al. 1983). Hcwever, t o t a l number of organisns and bicmass var ied s l g n l f fcant ly w i t h pH (Flg. 111. The h ighes t nurnber of organisms and greaPesf bianass were fcund l n lakes o f pH beiween 5.5 and 6,5, On e l the r s Ide o f t h f s l nterva l t h e correspsnd f ng values a r e d l s t l n c t l y laver, a s lPuat lon whlch appears t o be i n agreement w I t h t h e f l n d l ngs o f other researchers (Radhm 1980; Nielaen 1980). Contrary t o what o ther authors have observed (Fiance 1978; Bel l 1971 1, abundance o f Ephenercptera d l d no t s e m t o decl i n e w i t h

pH. Another s ign 1 f i can t f i nd l ng was t h e t o t a l absence of the anph ipod Ganarus, wh l ch l s ccmmn i n lakes w l t h pH over 6.4 (Okland 7 969) . W i t h regard t o t h e survey o f 54 I akes conducted i n 1982, Clupka-Luzzi (1983) noted t h a t t h e sanpl ing was not representa t lve of t h e envi r o m n t surveyed i n view of t h e t e d n i c a l and a n a l y t i c approach employecl. The

sane author t h e r e f o r e fee ls it woul d be m l SI eadl ng t o a t t m p t t o I n t e r p r e t t h e resu l t s obtained i n 1982 i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e physlco- chemlca l qua1 i t y o f t h e l akes sampl ed.

Af t e r t h e sanp l i ng o f 50 l akes i n 1983, Pcpe e t a l e (1985) summed up t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p beiween t h e s t r u c t u r e o f benthic ccmminlt les and a c l d l t y and predaPlon leve ls i n t h e f o l l a r i ng manner:

- t h e crusPacean Hyatel l a azteca may be a good i nd i ca to r o f lake ac id i f i ea t l on , s i nce Tt l s c l e a r l y less abundant i n ac ld l akes;

- w l t h regard t o aquat ic i nsects, data c o l lec- t e d on ephemera a r e i n keep i ng w i t h observa- Pions l n t h e s c i e n t i f i c l i t e r a t u r e t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t they are scarce i n acid lakes. Hcwever, dens ity masurements f o r Odanata a r e t h e .sane l n ac id and non-acid lakes excep? i n t h e Schef f e r v i I l e area, where they a re n o t p resent i n most lakes. The pe l aglc specles Chaoborus, a predator i nsect wh i ch l s l n t u r n subJect t o predat ion by f i sh , i s more abundant i n f l sh less lakes, a t l eas t when t h e pH i s over 4.5. S i m l l a r l y , H m i p t e r a and Colecptera, which are a c t i v e sw i m m i ng predators, shw a S I i g h t tendency t o be more numerais i n f i sh l ess l akes, wh l l e e p i b e n t h i c h e r b i v o r o u s C ladoce ra a r e s l g n l f i can t l y m r e abundant i n f lshless, mdera te l y ac ld lakes than I n neutra l o r a l ka l i n e lakes.

- gastrcpod mol lusks a re e l lminated f r a n ac ld lakes whl l e pe leqpsds e x h l b l t a S I i g h t drcp under moderately ac ld condi t l o n s b u t d i sap- pear I n t h e Schef fe rv l l l e area when a c i d l t y becanes extrene.

- Hirudlnea tend t o dlsappear frcm acld waters. The absence o r shortage o f prey i n these l akes ( f i sh, anph i b i ans, i nvertebra- tes) i s very l 1 kely t h e determi n 1 ng factor,

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s ince t h e i r populat ion cons is ts m i n l y o f ca rn i vo ra i s predators, blood suckers, and paras i tes.

I n surn, t h e r e s u l t s obtained f ran t h e swveys and s p e c i f i c s tud ies o f 1981-1982 shcw a c l e a r d r q i n t h e abundance and d i v e r s i i y o f i nver tebra te canmn i t i e s i n ac id envi rorments. However, t h i s drcp c a l d be due t o f ac to rs o the r than ac id i f i ca t i on , such as biogeo- graphical i so la t ion , mrphometr lc and physico- chenlcal features, o r t h e range o f t h e specles Involved. On t h e whole, t h e r e s u l t s make lt psssib l e t o charac ter ize Quebec l akes I n t e n s o f b io logy on t h e basis of t h e reglon-to- reg ion a c i d i t y g rad ient w i t h i n t h e Canadian Sh t e l d. None t h e less, t h e kncwledge acquired t o da te i s s t i l l i n s u f f i c i e n t t o penn i t us t o rneasure w i t h c e r t a i n i y t h e repercussions of ac id p r e c i p i t a t i o n on i nvertebrate canmn i-

t ies . I n air cpinion, t h e spa t i a l sanpl ing e f f o r t f o r b i o l o g i c a l cornponeni-s was s u f f i c ien t ; hcwever, only spot sanples were tdcen, and t h l s se ts strong const ra in ts on i n te rp re ta t i on 1 n v i ew of t h e great seasonal v a r i a t ions t h a t occur anong phytcpl ankton, zocp l ankton, and benthos i nvertebrate popul a- t l ons.

FISH

Between 1981 and 1985, DFO-Quebec conduc- t ed several surveys of t h e f l s h canmn i t y l n Quebec lakes (Table 1 ). Amng t h e lakes sanpled f o r physlcal chemlstry, subsanples o f 38 lakes (Lang lo is e t al. 1983) and 54 lakes -- (Pi nel-Al lcu 1 and Méthot 1985; Nadeau 1983) were surveyed i n 1981 and 1982 respect ive ly t o ob ta in bas ic data on t h e f i s h canmni iy . I n addit ion, a study t o canplenent t h e b io log i ca l surveys was c a r r i e d o u t t o assess t h e i n d i r e c t

impact o f lake a c i d l f i ca t i on on t h e food cha in f o r f i sh o f i n t e r e s t f o r spo r t f ishing i n an a rea t h a t r e c e i v e s heavy a c l d f a l l o u t (Maniwaki) and areas t h a t receive less ac id f al lait (Schef fe rv l l le, Gagnon, Sept I les) (Pcpe e t ai. 1985). A f l a s h survey of a

number of a r c t i c char h a b i t a t s was conducted i n t h e l a t e summr o f 1983.

Moreover, s p e c i f i c i n s i t u and laboratory s tud ies ( c f Tables 1 and 2 ) were c a r r i e d o u t w i t h salmnids. I n lakes, t h e i n s i t u s tud ies dea l t p r i rnar i l y w l t h b r d trait egg and f r y mortal i ty (Lec lerc e t a l . 1984; Lec le rc 19821, wh i l e s tud les i n r i v e r envirorments involved bioassays using A t l a n t i c salmon eggs and f r y (Bra iard and Lachance 1986). Cmp 1 ementary laboratoty work included develcprnent of a biochanlcal da t ing technique f o r dead eggs (Chagnon 1984; Lec le rc 2 fi. 1984) and s tud ies i n t o t h e t o x l c e f f e c t s o f alurninurn and manganese on s a l m n i d eggs, f r y , and j uven i l es (Van Coi l l i e e t al. 1982; Brouard and Lachance 1986).

Character izat ion o f t he f i s h canrnunity

During t h e f i s h survey o f 1981, a t o t a l o f 13 species were i d e n t i f ied. The c m m n e s t species i s t h e brodc trait (Salve1 inus f o n t i n a l i s ) , which i s found i n 53% of t he lakes. Two other species, t h e wh i te sucker (Castostanus canrnersoni) and t h e northern p ike (Esox luc ius) are present i n 26k and 21% of t h e lakes respect ive ly (Lang lo is e t al. 1983). The resul t s of experirnental f i s h i ng i nd ica te t h a t t h e m a n pH of t h e f i v e (5) l akes w i t h a f ishing y i e l d o f zero i s 5.2 ( ranglng f r m 4.6 t o 5.7). Langlois e t al. (1983) noted t h a t t h e average f l sh lng y i e l d and species d l ve rs l - t y of t h e l akes sanpl ed tends t o drcp w i t h pH (Fig. 12). I t was a l so noted t h a t brock t r c u t a re present a t pH belcw 5.0, whereas t h e wh i te sucker does,not appear unless pH i s over 5.0. The absence of t he l a t t e r specles i n some lakes ccu ld be due t o envirormental ac id i t y , s i nce Baker and Schof i e l d (1980) shcwed t h a t Castostanus canmersoni i s m r e s e n s i t i v e t o a c i d i f i c a t i o n than Sa lve l inus f o n t i n a l i s regardless of develqrnent stage. I t must be stressed, hwever, t h a t f a c t o r s o the r than t h e phys icochemical qua1 i t y of t he water can exp la in t h e absence of a l l f i sh o r a given species l n lakes, s ince ranges Vary f ran

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Flg. 9 1: Benthos. ToPal nunber o f organlsms and b l o m s s (dry we l@t) as a f unc t l on o f pH ( f r m Lang lo ls e t a l - 1983). --

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species t o species and it woul d appear t h a t many lakes are natura l ly f i s h l e s s (Langlois e t al. 1983). The l a t t e r s i t u a t i o n i s - - apparently very canmn on t h e North Shore, l i ke ly because o f t h e i n a c c e s s i b i l i t y o f lakes a t t h e heads o f watersheds.

T h e r e s u l t s o f t h e 1982 s u r v e y

( P i nel-Al lai l and G t h o t 1985; Nadeau 1983) i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e species d i v e r s i t y and t o t a l abundance of f i s h populat ions s e m I i t P l e a f f es ted by pH v a r i a b i l i t y . These data are d i f f i c u l t t o i n t e r p r e t s i n c e species range and biogeographical i s o l a t i o n m y play a m r e important r o l e than t h e physical chemistry of t h e waters a t l e a s t i nso fa r as species d l v e r s i t y o f f i s h popu la t ions i n t h e lakes o f t h e Canadi an Sh ie ld i s concerned (Pinel-Al lail and ~ é t h o t 1985).

Nadeau e t al. (1984) in terpre ted resul t s on m t a l and major i o n content i n t h e f l esh o f

f ish harvested dur l ng t h e 1981 survey. They were unab le, hcwever, t o estab l i sh a co r re l a- t ion between m t a l content i n f l esh and m t a l c o n c e n t r a t i ons i n wa te r and sediments. P h i l l i p s (1977) notes w i t h resped- t o t h i s sub jec t t h a t concentrat ions i n f i sh m s c l e t i ssue may Vary not only according t o t h e r e l a t i v e abundance of m t a l s i n t h e environ- ment b u t also, dependl ng on species, as a func t ion of age, sexy size, weight, feedlng habl ts, and water temperature. Moreovet-, exami nat ion o f f I esh metal content f o r several f ish species as a f unc t i on of pH c lass and a i ka l i n i t y d id not reveal any cot-re lat ion (Nadeau e t al. 1984). S i m i l a r l y , i n a study conducted by Scruton (1983) i n lakes of Newfoundland, it was n o t poss ib le t o es tab l i s h a co r re l a t i o n between a l umi num and mnganese content i n ouananiche (Salmo sa1 a r ) and brodc t r c u t f l e s h and paraneters i nd i ca t i ve of a c i d i f i c a t i o n (pH, a l ka l i n i t y , colcur, t o t a l a lumi num, and t o t a l rnanganese) . For mrcury , on t h e other hand, Schneider e t al. (1979) fcund t h a t i n wal leye (St izos ted ion v i t r e m ) concentrations were h igher i n l akes exh i b i t i n g

la alka l i n i t y .

The study of 54 lakes i n t h e idaniwaki, Sept i les, and Schef f e r v i l l e areas conducted i n 1983 shcws t h a t t h e Wisconsin g l a c i a t i o n had cons iderab l e in f luence on lake coloniza- t i o n by f i sh i n areas o f rugged topography and t h a t a number of head lakes a re f i sh less o r have f i s h c m m n i t i e s cons i s t i ng o f only a Pew species ( P q e e t al. 1985). The study a l so conf inns t h a t t h e number o f species drcps and

t h e number of f i sh l ess l akes i ncreases w i t h a l t i t ude . I n t h e Man iwak l area, Icw-al t l t ude lakes a re character lzed by species such as ye I lcw perch (Perca f l avescens) , northern p ike, and centrarch ids. Higher a l t i tude l akes a r e character lzed by co l d-water species ( i e: brodc trait and lake trait (Salvel inus nanaycush)) o f t e n associated w i t h wh i t e sucker and m l nncws o f t h e genus Chroscmus. Accordi ng t o Pope e t al. (1985), a l t i t u d e appears t o be a b e t t e r i nd i ca to r than lake order f o r p red ic - t i n g species d i ve rs i i y . I n t h e idaniwaki and Sept l les areas, water qua1 i t y i s a l so l i nked t o a l t i tude, s ince a l1 h igh -a l t i t ude f i s h l e s s lakes b u t one have a pH between 4.6 and 5.3. i n t h l s area, al l lakes belar 230 m are a l k a l i n e wh l l e m s t of t he acid lakes are above 330 m. Pope e t al. (1985) note t h a t biogeographical i s o l a t i o n i s t h e primary f a c t o r governing d l v e r s i t y o f f i sh c m m n i t i e s i n t h e idaniwaki, Sept I les, and Gagnon areas.

The study was hweve r unable t o s h w t h a t

f i a h c m r m n i t i e s are negat ively a f f ec ted by t h e impact o f a c i d i f i c a t i o n on t h e food cha in f o r i nvertebrates because of i nsuf f i c i e n t sanp l i ng e f f o r t and, as a resul t, i nadequate representa t iveness.

Verreaul t and Lang l o i s (1984) c o l lected bas ic data on t h e brodc trait popu la t ion o f Lake Laf l anmr over t h e fa1 l of 1982 and t h e summr of 1983 ( c f Table 1 ) . Resu l ts f o r g r a t h and f e r t i l i t y d id not d i f f e r s i g n i f i - cant l y f r m those obta i ned f o r o the r popul a- t i o n s i n t he Laurentides w i l d l i f e reserve. According t o t he sane authors, t he massive m o r t a l i t y of more than 500 f i s h i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1981 produced a drcp i n t he number of organisms i n t h e young age classes o f t h e

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Flg. If: F1shIng y i e l d and spec Ies d i v e r s I P y v e î a u a pH s l a a s (frm L a n g l o i s ef al. 19831.

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With regard t o t i s s u e concentrations, sodium i s a t l eas t t w i c e as abundant i n t h e con t ro l e n v i r o m n t as i n t h e ac id environ- ment. Ch l o r ide concent ra t ions a r e s l m 1 l a r i n both e n v i r o k n t s I n Odober (day 35) bu t appear t o be h igher On t h e a c l d e n v i r o m n f a t t h e t ime o f hatchlng (February 1. For ccpper, concentrat ions a re m r e than t e n t imes higher amng organlsms i n t h e a c i d e n v l r o m n f (13.2 versus 1 .O ug/g) over t h e m n t h o f Febmary (day s 135 Po 149) . I r o n concentrations are h igher i n t he ac ld e n v l r s m n t than i n t he c o n t r o l environnent a f bo th tlmes.

Embryo develapment was more r a p l d i n t h e con t to l e n v i r o m n t than i n t h e ac id environ- ment, bu t t h e less-devel cped organ isns i n t h e ac id e n v i r o m n t con ta in more cy top lasn ic p ro - te ins, i ndicatlng, accord1 ng t o Lec le rc e t al. (1984) t h a t t h e eggs a r e ad jus t l ng t o environ- mental condit ions. A s i m i 1 a r p r o t e i n i ncrease had p rev ia i s l y been noted i n r a i n b w trait (Salmo g a i r d n e r i l ) a f f e d e d by organfc po l lu- t l o n (Wleser and H i n t e r l e l t n e r 1980).

The m t h o d f o r biochemical da t i ng o f dead eggs t h a t was deve lqed i n conned ion w l t h t h i s study i s worthy o f specia l a t t e n t i o n i n v i a r of i t s po ten t i a l useful n e s s ' f o r monito- r i n g neiworks. Uslng t h e technique of l s o e l e d r i c foca l iza t lon , t he dat ing m t h o d appl l ed t o brodc trait (Lec le rc e t al. 1984) -- makes l t poss ib le t o detennl ne t h e per iod o f m o r t a l i t y f o r eggs and f r y l n n a t u r a l â e t t i ngs* Mal a t e dehydrogenase W H ) enzyme a c t i v t t y and t o t a l s o l u b l e p r o t e l n (PRBT9 were measured. Temporal assesmient of these two paraneters led t o devel cpment o f a b lochmlca l egg m r t a l i iy dat ing model whfch, a f t e r t e s t i n g i n a natural enviromient> was used t o detenni ne mortal i ty per iods between smp l i ng dates.

Laboratory exper iments show t h a t t he r e l a t i v e level o f bûH enzyme acP lv i t y decl ines w i t h t ime a f t e r death 1 n brock trait eggs. I n contrast, t h e t o t a l s o l u b l e p r o t e i n concentra- t ion i ncreases w l t h t lme o r rena l ns c lose t o

t h e i n l f l a l level (Lec lerc e t al. 1984). These observations provi de a bas is f o r prcpos i ng t h e f o l l ar i ng r u l es o f i n te rp re ta - f ion w i t h regard t o t h e post-morten pe r iod:

- i f l og [M)HI i s equal t o o r g reater t han 65% o f t h e i n i t i a l value, t h e eggs have been dead f o r 15 days o r less;

- I f log [PROTI i s greater than I t s i n i t i a l value, t h e eggs have been dead f o r a per lod of between 15 and 25-30 days;

- I f l o g [M)HI i s Icw (< 45% of i n i t i a l value) and log [FROTI i s s i g n i f i c a n t l y t a re r than i t s i n i t i a l value, t he eggs have been dead f o r more than 25-30 day S.

The dat ing m d e l adapted t o A t l a n t i c salmon eggs by Chagnon (1984) m k e s use of t h r e e enzymes ( l actates, ma l a t e dehydrogenase, and g lutanate-oxal acetate transmi nase) t o detennine on a s - ta t is t l ca l bas i s t h e f o l l w i n g mortal l ty per iods: under 2 day s, beiween 2 and 8 days, between 11 and 12 days, and between 14 and 24 days. Chagnon (1984) notes t h a t t h i s m t h o d i s val i d over a pe r i od o f 24 days and c a l d be extended t o cover longer per iods a f t e r f u r t h e r study. Val i d a t i o n of

t h e model l s necessary before u t i l i z a t ion.

An in tegra ted study o f b i o t i c and a b i o t l c c q o n e n t s i n t h e watershed o f a tr fbutary o f t h e Des Escaiml ns R iver (Cassette R i ve r ) was conducted between November 1982 and October 1984- By using semi-natural l nabaP ion apparatus ( f n a b a t o r t r a ighs ) t o e l l m 1 na te a good deal o f t h e backgraind no ise a t t r i b u t a b l e t o b i o t f c m r t a l l t y (p r imar i ly due t o preda- t i o n and fungi 1, Brcuard and Lachance (1986)

were able t o shw t h a t a b l o t i c m r t a l i t y (p r imar i l y due t o t he physlcochmi cal qua1 l t y of t h e water) i s approxlmately 3% f o r t h e e n t i r e i n a b a t i o n pe r i od (200 days) (Flg. 15). T o t a l c u m u l a t i v e m o r t a l i t y (b i o t i c and a b i o t l c ) was assessed a? 8% i n t h e con t ro l

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Table 12. Summary o f operat ions and r e s u l t s obtained dur i ng i n s i t u incubations conducted by Lec le rc e M ( 1 984).

Tota l rnoîtal fty ( 8 ) Measurement Tlme 04 dai-e deve I qme n t ac ld envi r o m n t (Bar ley) con t ro l envl rsrment (~obb;)

(dayl T r i bcrPary Out i e t T r i bu ta ry Out le?

9 Dec. 1982 79 e>q>er i m n t 33 f 12 mt o f t h e most o f t h e d i scont f nued eggs d ied eggs d led ( f r e e z i ng) ( i n f e s t a t i o n ) ( i n f e s t a t i o n )

15 Dec. 1982 -

3 Feb. 1983 135

25 Feb. 1983 -

15 May 228

- eggs replaced

i n boxes

hatch i ng - hatch i ng i n - accornp l i s hed

proçress w i t h Icw m o r t a l i t y 79 f 17

f r y l eave t h e - 1 ncubat Ton boxes

- --

* The m t t a l i t y 1s expressed as t h e man + si-andard dev la t lon ca l cula-fed f o r n = 1 O.

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O 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Time of develogment (days)

Flg. 14. Ablonlc m r t a l i t y ( % ) as a funct lon of the nunber of days of developmnd. i n an ac l d t r l bu ta r y (pH 4 . 4 ) ,

acld ou t l e f (pH 4.8) and the contro l envlrorment (pH 6.8) ( f r m Leclerc e t a l . 1984). --

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g r a p . Moreover, Brouard and Lachance (1986) denionstrated t h a t instantaneais m r t a l i i y rates, p r l m a r i l y of a b l o t l c o r fg ln , e x h i b l t a p o s i t i v e c o r r e l a t i o n w i t h d lssolved alumi num leve ls l n sur face waters and a negat lve corre- 1 a t i o n w i t h desc r i p to rs associated w l t h m l neral i z a t i o n o f waters and t h e presence o f Iron. Wlth regard t o b locamu la t l on of albirninum and mnganese, whf le It i s no t s lgn i f l can t i n na tu ra l envirorinents (< 5 ug/g f o r Al and Mn), canplementary laboratsry e q e r lments (see Toxl c e f f e c t s o f m t a l s f reveal acamul a t l o n o f aluml num parPlcul a r l y I n t h e p s t - f e r t i I lzed egg stage under SI i g h t l y acld condi t l o n a when organle mafter I s no t present. 1 n f h e l lghP o f these obser- vations, t h e preva i l l ng physicochenleal concil- t i o n s dur ing t h e I n a b a t i o n pe r l od l n t h e Casset te and Des Escouml ns r i v e r s woul d no? appear t o be a r r e n t l y hanperlng A t l a n t i c salmon recru l iment i n t h e lcwer po r t l ons o f these water ccurses. Hwever, t h e marked drcp i n a lka l i n i t y observed I n t h e Casset te R iver dur ing t h e spr lng suggests t h e psss lb l l i iy o f a shafp pH drq, t h a t c w l d be brcught on by a s e t of spr i ng envi r o m e n t a l csnd l t lons mare c r i P l c a l than those enccuntered over t h e sfudy

per 1 od.

I n sum, t h e resul t s obtained t o date a re 1 nsuf f i c i e n t t o assess whether Iake f l sh canrmnl t les a re a f f ec ted by t h e a c i d l f l c a t l o n process. There a r e t o o few e x l s t i n g data on f fsk Po doament t h e disappearance o f c e r t a i n specles i n ac id l akes as has been observed f n Scandl navl a, New Eng 1 and, Ontario, and Nova Scot ia. Hcwever, Quebec lakes exh l b i t t h e sane trends w i th regard t o dec l i nes l n t h e d l v e r s i i y of c a n m n l t f e a a t a c l d l c pH. For r i vers , lt has been noted t h a t preval l lng phys icochanical condl t i o n s I n t h e Casset te and Des Esccumins r i v e r s (Upper North Shore) do n o t cur rent ly a f f e c t t h e su rv i va l o f A t l a n t i c salmon eggs and f r y , a t l eas t i n t h e lcwer po r t i ons o f t h e water ccurses. On t h e North Shore as a whole, hwever, t h e watershed o f t h e Des Escoumi ns R ive r 1s anong t h e l eas t sens i t i ve t s a c i d l f i c a t i o n . ,4ccordTngly, t he re l s st rong j u s t l f i c a t l o n f o r extendl ng I n s i t u bloassays t o o the r much more s e n s i t i v e --

r l v e r s t o o b t a l n a t r u e p o r t r a i t o f t h e s i t ua - t i o n f o r t h e e n t l r e North Shore o f t h e S t Lawrence River.

Tox ic e f f e c t s o f metals

Acid p r e c i p i t a t i o n encsurages t h e re fease o f m- ta ls f r m r e l a t l v e l y acld soi1 and aubsoi 1 i n t o t h e aquat ic envlroment. The mstal Ions which are thus caused t o en te r t h e waters o f streans and r ! v e r s can reach concen- t r a t i o n s t h a t a re t o x l c f o r f ish. Hwevet-, t o x i e i % va r i es great ly aecording t o pH and t h e d i f f e r e n t l o n l c f oms of t h e =Pal csnsidered. Amng t h e m t a l s 1 i ke l y t o be mobi l i zed by t h e a c l d i f i c a t i o n process, aluminum i s t h e one f o r which concent ra t ion i n a c i d l f ied water ccurses 1s t h e most p o t e n t l a l - l y t o x i c.

1 n a 1 aboratory study, Van C o i I l l e e t a l (9983) assessed t h e t o x i c l t y of al umi num i n salmonids by slmul a t l ng the phys lcochmisa l condiPfons found l n Canadlan Sh le1 d waters a f f ec ted by ac id prec lp l ta t lon . The exper l - ments involved A t l a n t i c s a l m n and brock trait aged 1' and 2'. Lethal and sublethal concen- t r a t i o n s were determined f o r both species and c e r t a i n phys lo log ica l responses of t he f i s h were recorded dur i ng t h e b ioassays.

The r e s u l t s shw t h a t t o t a l alumlnum t o x i c l i y f o r A t l a n t i c saimon i s a t l e a s t t h r e e t imes as hlgh a t pH 4.6 and t w i c e as high a t pH 5 . 5 as f o r brodc trait. The l e tha l concen- t r a t i o n f o r A t l a n t i c s a l m n (LC f o r 50% of organlsns a f t e r 7 days a t 10°C) ranges f r m 100 t o 650 ug/L, dependi ng on experimental condi t lons; f o r brodc trait, t h e range 1s beiween 480 and 945 ug/L under t h e sane condl - t i ons. Preference and detec i ion t e s t s conducted w i th sa imn ids shcwed t h a t t h e sub 1 e tha l concentrat ion ( e f f e d i v e concentra- t i o n p rod i c lng behav la i ra l response i n 50% of organlsns a f t e r 30 minutes a t 10°C) ranges f r m 920 t o 1220 ug/L, dependi ng on exper imen- ta1 condi t lons. Under i norgan l c eondi t ions,

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e .

Tsough # 1 . "

(control) . -'

Nov. Dec. 1983 31

Jan.

93 12 2 153 183 Days

Time of development

Fig. 15. Tirne v a r l a t l o n I n curnulatlve n o r t a l i t y r a t e f o r s a l m n eggs Incubated I n Droughs i n t h e Cassette R iver ( f r a n Brcuard and Lachance 1986).

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t h e b io log i ca l ly exchangeable and po ten t l a l ly t o x i c l a b i l e f o m of aluminurn i s t h e m s t abndant. Hcwever, t h e presence of organlc matter i n waters can p a r t i a l ly neut ra l l ze t h e

t o x i c e f f e c t o f alumlnurn. The phys io log lca l e f f e d s on t h e f l s h lnc luded b ioacamu la t l on o f alurninum I n t h e g l l ts, whlch should lead t o a substant ia l i ncrease i n oxygen consmpt lon under a c i d s t ress condi t ions. I n t h e I ighP o f t h e l e tha l and sub i e tha l alurni num t o x l c i * leve ls f o r t h e h o specles studied, t h e authors (Van Co l t l l e eP ai. 1983) suggest t h a t t h e value of 100 ug/L t o t a l alumlnum ccu ld serve as a standard indf ea to r o f atuml num t o x l c i t y f o r salmonlds I n Phe v e q çofP lnorganlc waters t h a t a re t y p f c a l of t he r ivers and streans o f t h e Canadian Shlel d, althcugh t h e organic mat ter i n these waPers c a l d aPtenuaPe t h l s t o x i c i t y .

DaPa co l lected dur i ng t h e study on mr- ?al i t y and bisacarnul a t i o n under laboratory cond i t ions (Brouard and Lachance 1986) made it poss ib le t o es tab l l sk thaP l w e r i n g pH values Po near 5.7 u n l t s sver a shorP pe r i od ( 1 5 days9 does not s i g n l f i can t l y l n f luence t h e m o r t a l l i y r a t e o f p o s t - f e r t l l i z e d and mbry - on i c salmon eggs. The var icus I n a b a t l o n cond i t ions enccuntered du r i ng t h e experiment i nd ica te t h a t t h e process o f alumi nurn accumu- l a t i o n i n s a l m n eggs i s governed by a b i o t i c and b i o t i c f adors .

The presence of humic matter at tenuates t h e alumf num i ncorporat ion proeess by m r e than a f a c t o r o f four regard less o f i n a b a t l o n rnetal concentrat ions. Accumu l a t ion o f alurni- nurn I s a lao l n f luenced by exposure concentra- t i on : t h e concentrat ions o f t h i s =Pal i n eggs appear t o be p r o p o r t l o n a l t o t h e concentration o r l g i na1 ly found i n t h e environ- ment, which c a l d expIaTn t h e r e l a t l v e l y rap fd estab l i s h e n t o f an equi l i b r ium s t a t e and t h e very I i rn i ted tgnporal va r i a t i ons I n t h l s paraneter noted dur i ng 1 n s i t u 1 nabat ion .

The t h r e e experimental phases c a r r ied o u t l n t h e laboratory made lt poss ib le t o s h w t h a t t h e embryo developrnent stage l n f luences t h e a l urni nurn acamu l aPion process. Determi ned

f o r a l l b i o l o g i c a l t issue, aluminurn i s p re fe r - e n t l a l ly acamul ated as f o l l w s : post- f e r t i l i zed eggs > embryonTc eggs > sacfry. T h i s 1s i n agreenent w l th t he grad ient obtained f o r cadmium i n Salrno sa la r (Rmbcugh and Garside 1982). The sane authors noted t h a t cadmium leve l s i n f r y j u s t a f t e r ha tch lng a r e m c h l w e r than t h e leve ls i n eggs, although thq r a r e d l r e d l y proport lonal .

IP 1s thus poss ib le t h a t t h e alumlnurn and manganese detected l n t h e eggs were l i nked t o Phe chor ion r a t h e r than t h e embryo. Hwever, Phe de tec t i sn th resho l d f o r these metal s was c e r t a i n l y t o o high ( 2 ug/g f o r Al, 1 ug/g f o r Mn) t o shm any bioaccumu l a t l o n phenanenon i n sacf r y .

Other metals are leached by ac id p r e c i p i - f a t ion and may reach po ten t i a l ly t o x i c concen- t r a t i o n s f o r f l sh (manganese, cadmi um) . Hwever, Brouard and Lachance (1985) showed t h a t i n t h e laboratory alurnl nurn accumu l ates more r a p l d l y and c lea r l y m r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y than manganese i n s a l m n eggs. The t o x i c i t y o f these metals has n o t rsceived much study t o date, and t h e r e i s very l i t t l e kncwledge of rnetal t s x l c i i y f o r specles o ther than salmo-

n tds e l t h e r l n Quebec o r elsewhere I n Canada.

CONCLUS I ON

Ana lys ls o f t h e dafa gathered frcm Quebec lakes and r i v e r s has shmn that, over t h e whole o f t h e study area (Canadl an Sh [ e l d south o f t h e 52nd paral l e l ) , acid afmospheric depos l P ion T s exe r t i ng a s fgn i f i cant l nf l uence on t h e physicochmieal q u a i l i y of sur face waters* Th i s 1 nf luence f s p a r t i c u l a r l y s t rong i n southwestern Quebec (Outaaiais, Maurlcie, Abl t lb i -Janes 3ay) and m n l f e s t s 1 t se I f

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p r l m a r l l y i n t h e form of di spl acanent of na tur a l b i carbonates 1 n l ake water by su1 f ates o f atmospherlc o r l g l n.

I t has been noted t h a t s e n s l t l v i t y t o a c l d l f icatlon, assessed on t h e bas ls of mDneral lzat ion o f surface waters, gradual ly increases f r a n t h e southwest t o t h e northeast, w i t h a maximum on t h e Midd le and Laver North Shore. A t t h e sane t h e , t h e r e l s an a t m o s p h e r l c SUI f a i e d e p o s i t i o n g r a d i e n t runn lng l n t h e opposl te d l r -ect lon t o t h e sens l t l v l t y g rad ien t . Exami n a t i o n o f a l k a l l n l t y / s u l f a t e r a t i o s i n lakes shavs t h a t t h e c m b i ned e f f e c t of these two fac to rs i s f e l t t o d i f f e r l n g degrees r i g h t across Quebec. Thus, lakes I n t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e Roberval, Alma, Chute des Passes, and Manlcaagan bases, w h i l e they recelve less ac id deposit ion, a re a f f e d e d as m c h as o r m r e than m r e scuther ly lakes because of t h e i r g reater s e n s i t i v i t y . I n over 80% of t h e lakes consldered w i t h i n t h i s zone, t h e H C O ~ - / S O ~ - ~ r a t i o i s less than un l ty . The correspondlng zone on t h e North Shore, wh lch rece lves atmo- spher lc fa1 lait o f on t h e order o f t h e t a r g e t f lgure o f 20 kg/ha-yr, i s a lso a f f e d e d ; 50%

o f t h e lakes and 43% of t h e r i v e r s sanp i ed i n t h i s zone e x h i b l t a r a t i o under u n i t y .

I n t h e r i v e r s of t h e North Shore, as a whole, s l g n l f l cant pH d r q s are observed durfng t h e spr ing m l t perlod; water pH dec 1 1 neç t o un der 5.5 i n many cases. These r ivers are pr lmar l l y located I n t h e eastern p o r t i o n o f t h e Upper North Shore ( ~ r l n i i - 6 and Aux Rochers), on t h e Middle Nor th Shore (Matanec, Pigcu, Tortue, Aux Graines, A l a Ch a l ape, and Jupl tagon) , and on t h e L m e r Nor th Shore (Musquaro, Olmane, and Du Gros ~ é c a t i na). The seasona l f l u c t u a t i o n s , canbined w l th high m t a l content ( t o t a l alumi num concentrations i n excess o f 200 ug) can beccme c r l t i c a l f o r t h e development and hatchlng of Salrno sa lar eggs. The t o x i c p o t e n t i a l of alurni num nust s t i l l be deter- m i ned, hcwever, s lnce It depends on local chenlcal speclatlon.

The spec i f l c s tud ies conducted i n t h e watersheds of t h e Casset te and Des Esccumins r l v e r s (Upper Nor th Shore) have made lt possi- b l e t o m n l t o r t h e me l t l ng and i on migra t ion

phenmenon and assess I t s importance w i t h regard t o spr lngt lme ac id shock. During t h e spr 1 ng per l od, organ 1 c + adsorbed a l um i num proved t o be t h e p redmi nant f o n . The resul t s of t h e hydrochani ca l bal ance estab- 1 ished f o r t h e watershed o f t h e Casset te R i ve r have b r a g h t t o l i g h t a new phenanenon. The r e l a t l ve l y h lgh concentrat lons of su1 f ates feund I n sur face waters dur ing t h e me l t p e r l o d woul d appear t o be due not on ly t o massive r-el ease of su1 f ates acamu I ated i n sncw reserves b u t a l so t o a substant la l cont r ibu- Pion of s u l f a t e s accumulated i n s o i l s and vegetat ion over t h e precedlng summer and fa1 1. The scope o f t h i s phenanenon and i t s ecologi- cal repercussions i n terms of exp la in ing spr 1 ngtime ac id shock shoul d be exami ned i n f u t u r e studies.

Resul ts f r m t h e blophysical surveys o f lake env i romen ts shcw a drcp i n t h e abundance and d ivers i t y of i nvertebrate carimn it les (phytcpl arkton, zoopl ankton, and benthos) as a f u n d i o n o f env i rornenta l ac id i t y . Since it i s d i f f i c u l t a t t h i s stage t o d l s t i ngu i sh beiween t h e r e l a t i v e cont r ibu t ions o f natura l and atmospherlc sources o f ac id i t y , we cannot masure w i t h c e r t a l n iy t h e reperczisslons of ac id r a i n on lake i nve r teb ra te c a n m n l t l e s i n

Quebec.

For f i sh c m n i n l t les, t h e 1 ake survey s have no? made lt poss ib le t o shm a cause and e f f e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p between a tmospher i c depos i t i o n and observed decl 1 nes I n abundance and d i v e r s i i y under ac id condit ions. b r e - over, several grcups o f invertebrates t h a t a re Important i n f i s h d i e t s continue t o surv ive under ac id cond l t lons a t dens i t i es cariparable t o those f o r neu t ra l and a l ka l l n e condi t ions. I t i s t he re fo re d l f f l c u l t t o exp ia ln t h e absence o f f i s h i n these ac id lakes 1 n terms o f a negative Impact of a c l d l f l ca t i on on t h e i nvertebrate c m m n lb. The observed trends

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may be a t t r i b u t a b l e i n large p a r t t o t h e e f f e c t o f biogeographical i so la t ion .

Wi th respect t o r i v e r envlroments, it has been shcwn t h a t t h e cu r ren t l y preva i l i ng physlcochanl ca l condi t i o n s i n t h e Casset te (min pH: 6.0) and ûes Lsccurnins (min pH: 5.6) r l v e r s do no t a f f e c t t h e su rv i va l of AP lan t l c salmon e g g and f ry; t h e observed msr ta l l t y r a t e s l n t h e incubat ion t rcughs ranged frcm 3% ( a b l o t i c ) tu 8% ( b l o t l c and a b i o t i c ) ~

I n 1981, under l t s mandate f o r t h e con- servat lon, restorat ion, and develcpment o f f I sh habi t a t and t h e Canadi an progran o f study o n t h e r e p e r c u s s l o n s o f Long -Range PransporPaPisn o f Al rborne Pol l u tan ts (tRTPP 1, DFO began a vas t prograri o f research i n t s t h e IligaicP o f acld prec lp iPat ion on aquatfc envl rormentso The p r lmary ob jec t i ve o f DFO i n connect lon w l t h a progran of t h i s type l s t o prov lde f u l l re levan t s c i e n t i f i c data f o r t h e prepara t lon of an i nternat lonal agreement (Canada-üSA) on 1 i m i t a t i o n of atmospheric p o l l u t l o n sources.

I n order t o prov l de a v i sual representa- t l on o f hcw CF0 energl es have been dep l cyed, we have prepared Flg. 16, whlch glves an a r b i t r a r l 1 y grouped bredtdcwn of 1981 -1 985 monetary resour ces al S ocated t o t h e var l a s areas of a c t l v l t y t o wh lsh DFB has devoted specia l at tent ion. The f lgure a l so g lves a summry p r o j e c t i o n of t h e f u t u r e bredtdmn o f tesources f o r t h e 1986-1 990 per lod.

W i t h t h e fac t s nar estab l ished l n Quebec regard1 ng t h e chani ca l d e t e r l o r a t i o n of aquat ic h a b i t a t s i n t h e salmon r i v e r s o f t h e Nor th Shore and l ake envi rorinents p r lmar l l y f n t h e Laurentide, Maur lcie, and Man iwaki areas,

and t h e l d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f h igh p o t e n t i a l r isks f o r aquat ic organlsns ( p a r t i c u l a r ly A t l a n t i c salmn, brock t rou t , and wa l leye), t h e need has ar isen f o r t h e F i s h Hab i ta t D i v i s l o n o f t h e Department o f F i she r i es and Oceans t o make prov i s lon I n t h e s h o r t and mdium-term f o r co r rec t f ve a c t i o n and t o or ienP t h e lmplemen- t a t l o n o f such a c t i o n through the immd ia te es tab l i s k n t (1985) o f an eco iog lca l monltor- lng network cover ing ( a ) t h e salmon r l v e r s o f Phe NorPh Shore and (b) t h e lake environnents m s P representa t lve of t h e cu r ren t s l t u a t l o n l n Quebeco

I t l s t he re fo re understandable t h a t t h e e f f o r t p r imar i ly dedicated t o surveys dur lng t h e 1981-1985 p e r i o d shoul d no# be s h i f t e d t o ecolcgI cal rion l t o r i ng of lakes and r ivers (Fig. 16). Th i s mans t h a t wh i le seasonal phys l cochemica l m o n i t o r i n g o f t h e most representat ive aquat i c envi r o m n t s w i l l be mln ta lned, add i t iona l emphasis r i l l be given t o l d e n t l f l c a t i o n and v a l i d a t i o n o f b i o l o g i c a l l ndlcators o f p resent and f u t u r e ac ld stress. Here as well, s p e c l f i c i n s i t u and l n v i t r o -- research w i l l help t o improve our underâtand- i n g o f cause and e f f e c t r e l a t l o n s h i p s i nvo l v i ng c h a i ca l d e t e r l o r a t i o n o f aquat ic hab i ta t s versus the l e tha l o r sub l e tha l respnses of t h e exposed aquat ic organ i sis. The "natural a c i d i t y versus a c i d i t y of atmo- spher ic o r l g ln " aspect a lso remains a m j o r p o l n P o f i n t e r e s t f o r f u t u r e yea rs o f research.

SALMON RIVERS ON THE NORTH SHORE

Over 1985 and 1986, i n s i t u mon i t o r i ng o f -- t h e develcpment and surv iva l r a t e of salmon eggs and sacfry was c a r r i e d o u t t o conf in t h e acPual damage associ ab l e w l t h the c r i t i c a l physlcochemical cond l t ions l d e n t i f i e d i n four r lvers o f t h e Nor th Shore (Lava 1, ~ r i n lté, Aux Rochers, and McDonal d) .

This work w l I 1 cont inue w i t h t h e âddl t l s n o f the Jupltagon and Matanec r l v e r s on the

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Middle North Shore. Wh l l e l nvo l v l ng pre- summr o r fa1 l catches o f spawners, I n s i t u e f f o r t w i l l focus on spr ingt lme ac id shock correspond1 ng w l t h t h e most c r i t i c a l t ime f o r organisns i n t h e ea r l y develcpment stages. .4lumi num bloaccumu I a t i o n and heavy m t a l concentrat ions i n eggs and sacfry and aluminum spec ia t ion i n su r face waters and 1 n t e r s t i t l a l envi r o m e n t s a r e t h e mai n chenl ca l cons idera- t i o n s t h a t w l l l rece l ve specia l a t t e n t i o n l n connect ion w i t h t h e 1986-1 990 ecologl ca l mon i t o r l ng network.

Research and i n v i t r o physio logi cal

w i I I a l s s be d i r e d e d a t i n s i t u i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and v a l i d a t i o n o f and/or b lochenical i nd i ca to rs o f

ac ld s t ress f e l t by j u v e n i l e s and p a r r l i v i n g I n envi r o n e n t s t h a t a r e cu r ren t l y ac id on t h e North Shore. Al l these research canponents w i l l c o n t r i b u t e t o cp t im iza t l on of t h e s c i e n t i f i c y i e l d (develcpment of technical c a p a b i l i i y and acquisition of new s c i e n t i f i c know ledge) e x p e c t e d f rom an e c o l o g l c a l mon i t o r i ng network .

I n add i t i on t o t h e s tud ies on salmon, DFO-Quebec intends t o develcp and v a l i d a t e a ser ies of b io log i ca l i nd i ca to rs t h a t w i l l be more sens i t i ve t o t h e gradua1 m d i f l ca t ions c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f temporal a c i d i f i c a t i o n of aquat l c envi r onen ts . These I ndi ca tors cou l d serve as warning s igns and woul d be useful f o r begi nnîng possib l e co r rec t i ve ac t i on t o m l nimize t h e impact on cu r ren t s a l m n popul a- t ions. Accord1 ng ly , study of t h e s t ruc tu res o f macrobenthic canr run l t i ies and masuremenP o f resp i ra to ry a c t i v l t y anong bac te r l a and f ungi canmn i t l e s were u n d e r t k e n i n 1984-1 985 and should be extended i n eanîng years t o cover t h e e n t i r e Nor th Shore ecologl cal moni tor ing network. The s h o r t - t e n ob jec t i ve i s t o const ruc t an easy-to-use impact g r l d t d t i ng t h e v a r i a i s t r c p h l c leve ls i n t o acccunt and s t ress ing cheml ca l de te r i o ra t i on i ndlca- t o r s f o r aquat ic h a b i t a t s associable w i t h pH drcps (acIdcphobes/ acidcphi les) o r t o x i c metal (heavy m t a l concentrat ion i ncreases i n t h e enviroment. I n c m b i nat ion w i t h sub le- t h a l s t ress i nd i ca to rs t o be develcped f o r

i ndigencus juven i l es and parr, t h i s approach w i l l enhance t h e an t i c i pa ted s c i e n t i f i c y i e l d f r a n t h e r i v e r ecologl cal mon l t o r i n g network.

LAKE ENV I ROFMENTS

Deterini na t ion o f s a t i s f actory standards f o r t h e e f f e c t i v e p ro tec t i on o f aquat lc h a b i t a t s I s t h e f l na1 product t h a t DFO expects f r a n i t s research progran i n t o t h e e f f e d s o f ac ld prec ip i ta t ion . l d e n t i f l c a t l o n of t h e c u r r e n t c h m i c a l s ta tus o f Quebec lakes and subsequent d e t e n i na t ion of t h e an t f c ipa ted p o t e n t l a l r i s k s f o r aquat ic organisns have been ( c h m i cal surveys, 1981 -1 9821 and w i l l cont inue t o be (temporal m n i t o r l n g , 1986- 1990) essent ia l p r e l i m i nary steps t w a r d t h e establ is t inent o f such standards. Since i t has a l so been aware o f t he need t o va l i da te t h e v a r i a i s chemical s ta tus r e s u l t s obtained, DFO

has been working s lnce 1981 on t h e ana l ys i s and develcpment o f b io log i ca l t o o l s p e r m i t t i n g I n s i t u ccmparlson of responses by aquat ic -- cmrrun l t l es t o t h e v a r i a i s se ts o f chemical cond i t i ons observed.

F r m i n te rp re ta t i on of reçu1 t s f r m t h e 1981-1982 b io log i ca l surveys, a need has b e c m apparent t o ad jus t p ro toco ls and o r i e n t s c i e n t i f i c e f f o r t i n t h e fo l l cw ing nianner: ( 1 ) l i m i t i n g of c h m i c a l and b i o l o g i c a l sanpl i ng t o t h e spr I ng period; ( 2 ) concentra- t i o n o f temporal sanpl ing e f f o r t w i t h l n one o r two e x p e r l m e n t a l areas, p r e f e r a b l y t h e Maur l c i e and North Shore reglons; ( 3 ) focus- s ing o f t h e acquisition o f techn lca l capabi l i- t y p r imar i l y on the search f o r a c i d c p h o b i c a c i d c p h l l i c p lankton ind ica tors and t h e moni tor ing of eggs and sacfry of sa lmnids , percids, and cypr i nids.

T rad i t i ona l s tud ies of f i s h popu la t ion s t ruc tu res r e q u l r i n g exhaustive sanpl i ng e f f o r t can be ca r r i ed o u t on a l i m i t e d number of l akes se l ected beforehand as representa t i ve o f t he reglonal a c i d i f l c a t i o n gradlent. Lake L a f l a n m i s cu r ren t l y belng used i n a p i l o t

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Flg. 16. A l locat ion of budgetary reaources fo r 1981-1985 and forecast for 1986-1990,

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p r o j e c t (1985-1 986) f o r val l d a t i o n o f t h e use

o f i n s i t u bioassays as i nd lca tors o f t h e ac id s t r e s s actua l ly f e l t by sacf r y i n t h e spr i ng. Determinat ion . o f phys io log ica l i nd l ca to rs ( g l l l deformation, cpercula m t a l leve ls ) i n t h e juven l l e and adu l t stages of sa1 mon ids, percids, and cypr ln ids w i l l a l s o be a major canponent o f speci f i c i n s l t u research.

We WOU l d l i ke t o thark Mrs 'Lai i se Savard o f t h e Department o f F i she r i es and Oceans and consul t i ng b l o l o g i s t M r Jean-J acques F rene t te f o r revlewing t h e mnuscr ip t .

water qua1 lty. Dans: Drablos, D. e t A. TOI lan (éds). Ecological impact o f ac ld p rec ip i t a t i on , p. 292-293, SNSF project , Sandefjord, Norway.

Bel 1, H.L. 1971. E f f e c t s o f Icw pH on t h e s u r v l v a l and emergence o f a q u a t i c i nsects* Water Res. 5 : 31 3-319.

~ o b é e , B e , Y. GrIrnard, M. Lachance e t A. Tessier. 1982. Nature e t étendue de I s a c i d i f i c a t l o n des lacs du Québec. I NRS-Eau, Rapport s c i e n t i f i q u e no 140. préparé pour l e serv i ce de l a qua1 i t é des eaux du m i n i s t è r e de I tEnv i ronnment du Québec. 243 p. + 2 annexes.

Brooks, J.L. and S.!. Dodson. 1965. Predat ion, body s lze and. ccnipos i t i o n o f p l ankton. Sclence 150: 28-35.

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P ine l -A l lou l , B. e t G. Codin-Blumer. 1983. Analyse du zooplancton de 54 lacs du Québec; programme sur les p réc ip i t a t i ons acides, années 1983-84. Rapport du Centre de recherches écot og l ques de k n t r é a l au m in i s tè re des pêches e t des océans. 35 p.

P ine I lA l lou l , B. e t G. Codin-Blumer. 1984. Etude comparative de l a b io iog i e de deux groupes de lacs dans l a région de I 'Outaoua i s : anal yse du zooplancton des lacs de l a région de Mani waki en 1983. Rapport du Centre de recherches écologi- ques de ~ n t r 6 a l au m in i s t è r e des pêches et. des Océans. 25 p.

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Pinel-Al lou l , B. e* S. Méthot. 1985. Eval ua- t i o n des e f f e t s de I ' a c i d i f i c a t i o n sur les lacs du boucl l e r canadien: relai- ion eni-re les carac tér i s t iques mrphom6tr i- que%, physico-chimiques eP bio logiques de 54 lacs du Québec. Rapport du Centre de recherches éco l og i ques de k n t r é a l au m in [ s t è r e des pêches e t des Océans. 195 p e + annexes-

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Pqe, G., M.C. Tar issants e t R. Fontaine. 1985. U t i l i s a t i o n de m d è l e s t rcphlques e t de l a s t r u c t u r e des cannunaut& p l a n e toniques pour d é t e n i ner l es e f f e t s de I ' a c i d i t é e t de fac teurs envi ronnmentaux p a r t i c u l i e r s sur l a chalne a l imentaire dans l es lacs di Québec. Volume 2: étude l lmnologique de 50 lacs du Québec. Rapport di IEC Beak au m i n i s t k e des pêches e t des 0c6ans.

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Scheider, W.A., O.S. J e f f r i e s 8 D.J. D i l Ion.

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Pub I i ca t i ons from DFO-Québec

TECHNICAL REPORTS

Pl . Brouard, D., M. Lachance, G. Shooner e t Re Van C o i l l ie. 1982. S e n s i b i l i t é à I f a c i d i f i c a t i o n de quatre r i v i è r e s a saumon de l a & t e - ~ o r d du Saint- Laurent (Québec). Rapp. tech. can . sc i . ha l i eu t . aquat. 1109: v 9

56 p.

PZ- Langlois, Ce, Y. Vigneault, L. ~ é s i l e t s , A. Nadeau e t M. Lachance. 1983. Evaluat ion des e f f e t s de l ' a c i d i f i - ca t i on sur l a physico-chimie e t l a b i o l o g i e des lacs du boucl i e r cana- d ien (Québec). Rapp. tech. can. s c i . ha l ieu t . aquat. 1233: x i i + 129 p.

P3. Van Coi I I ie, Re, C. Thel Ien, P.G.C. Campbell e t Y. Vigneault. 1983. E f f e t s toxiques de l 'a luminium chez les Salmon id& en r e l a t i o n avec des cond i t ions physico-chimiques acides. Rapp. tech. can. s c i . ha l i eu t . aquat. 1237: i x + 88 p.

P4. Brouard, D., M. Lachance e t C. Langlois. 1 983. Qual i t 6 physico-chimique p r i n tan iè re des eaux de surface e t des p réc ip i t a t i ons dans l e secteur amont de l a r i v i è r e des Escoumins. Rapp. tech. can. s c i . ha l ieut . aquat. 1228: v i i + 39 p.

P6. Langlois, C e , Y. Vigneault, A. Nadeau e t

A. Ahern . 1984 ~ r é o c c u p a t ions sur les e f f e t s des préc i p i t a t ions ac i des sur l e poisson e t son hab i ta t au ~uébec . Rapp. man. can. sc i . ha1 ieu t . aquat. 1753: v + 19 p.

P7. Leclerc, J., Y.C. Chagnon, C. Langlois e t P. Dulude. 1984. Inf luence de I ' a c i d i f i c a t i o n sur l a surv ie e t l e développement des œ u f s e t des ale- v ins vés icu lés d'omble de fontaine Sa lve l inus fon t ina lTs ( M i t c h i I l ) dans l a r é g i o n de C h a r l e v o i x (Québec). Rapp. tech. can. sc i . ha1 ieu t . aquat. 1343: i x + 56 p.

P8. Verreaul t , G. e t C. Langlois. 1984. Etude de l a populat ion d'omble de f o n t a i n e S a l v e l i n u s f o n t i n a l i s (Mi tch i l 1 ) du lac Laf l amme, réserve faun i que des Laurent ides (Québec). Rapp. tech. can. sc i . ha1 ieu t . aquat. 1316: v i i + 61 p.

P9. Le J e u n e , R., B.P. H a r v e y e t

Y. V i gneau l t . 1984. Prospect ion sommaire de que lques h a b i t a t s d'omble cheval i e r Salve1 inus a lp inus al inné) du ~ u é b e c méridional . Rapp. manus. can. sc i . ha l i eu t . aquat. 1804: v i i i + 47 p .

P10. Langlois, C., A. Lemay, J. Ouzil leau e t

Y . V i gneau l t . 1985. Qua l i t é physico-chimique de 251 lacs du boucl i e r canadien ( ~ u é b e c ) . Rapp. manus. can . sc i . ha l i e u t . aquat . 1792: v i i i + 63 p.

P5. Nadeau, A., C . D e s j a r d i n s e t Y. Vigneault. 1984. Teneurs en métaux e t en ions majeurs des cha i r s de poissons de trente-deux lacs du Québec. Rapp. man. can. s c i . ha1 ieut . aquat. 1746: v i i + 78 p.

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Pl 1. Brouard, D o e t M. Lachance. 1986. E f f e t s des p r é c i p i t a t i o n s sur un sous-bassin versant de l a r i v i è r e des Escoum ins: réponse hydroch l- mique e t biologique. Rapp. tech. can. sc l . ha1 ieut . aquat. 1452: x i i i + 89 p.

P12. Walsh, G O e t Y. V igneau i l - . 1986. Analyse de l a q u a l i t 6 de l 'eau de r i v i è r e s de l a Côte-~ord du go1 f e Saint-Laurent en r e l a t i o n avec les processus d lac id i f i ca t%on . Rapp. teck. cane sci . ha l i eu t . aquat. 1546: x + 118 p.

P l3 Ahern, A., S. Cantin e t G. Verreaul t . 1986. ~ 6 s e a u de survel l l ance écol o- gique des r i v i s r e s à saumon de l a c ô t e - ~ o r d du Sa i nt-Laurent (Québec . A c t i v i t é s bactériennes e t fong i ques . Rapp. tech. can. sc i . ha l i e u t . e t âquat . (en préparat ion) .

WORKING PAPERS

RI . Labora to i re de 6 n i e San i t a i r e du Québec Inc. 1983. Analyses de sédiments:. lacs du Québec. Rapport prépar6 pour l e min i s tère des pêches e t des Océans, 2 p. + 9 annexes.

R2. Pinel-Al l ou l , B. e t G e Codin-Blumer-. 1982. Analyse de 38 échanti l lons de zooplancton de lacs du Québec. Rapport du Centre de recherches éco l og i ques de Montréal au m i n i s t è r e des pêches e t des océans. 1 1 p.

R3. P ine l -A l lou l , B. e t G. Codin-Blumer. 1983. Analyse du zooplancton de 54 lacs du Québec: programme sur les p r é c i p i t a t i o n s ac ides , années

1983-84. Rapport du Centre de recherches écol og iques de Pontréal au m in i s tè re des pêches e t des océans. 35 p .

R4. Pinel-Al loul., Bo e t G. Codin-BI umer. 1984. Etude ccmparative de l a bio- l og ie de deux groupes de lacs dans l a région de IIOutaouals: analyse du zooplancton des lacs de l a reg ion de Mani waki en 1983. Rapport du Centre de recherches écoiogiques de Montréal au m in i s tè re des pêches e t des océans. 25 p.

R5. Ciupka-Luzzi , Co 1983. ~ é s u l t a t s d'ana- lyse des échant i l lons endobenthiques récol t é s dans 54 lacs du guébec en 1982. Rapport de Roche e t associés Ltée au m i n i s tè re des pêches e t des océans. 14 p. + annexes.

R6. Richard, Fe 1983. lnventa i re physico- chimique e t b lo log ique des lacs du Québec dans l e cadre des études sur l e s e f f e t s des p r é c i p i t a t i o n s acides: 1. Anal yse des &su l t a t s de l ' i n v e n t a i r e p h y t o p l a n c t o n i q u e . Rapport du min is-tère des pêches e t des océans. 58 p. + annexes.

R7. Richard, F e 1983. lnventa i re physico- chimique e t b lo log ique des lacs du Qugbec dans l e cadre des études sur les e f f e t s des p r é c i p i t a t i o n s ac l - des: 2. ~ é s u l t a t s b r u t s de I inven- t a i r e phytoplanctonique. Rapport du m in i s tè re des pêches e t des Océans.

R8. Nadeau, A. 1983. Inventa i re b io log ique 1982 des lacs du Québec dans l e cadre des études des e f f e t s des p r é c i p i t a t ions acides: r é s u l t a t s ichtyologiques. Rapport du minis- t g r e des pêches e t des Océans. 77 p. + annexes.

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R9. ~ é s i l e t s , H. 1984. Inventa i re nat ional 1982 - phytop l ancton: dénombrements e t i dent i f i c a t ion. Rapport du min l s t è r e des pêches e t des océans. 13 p. + annexes.

* R I O . ~ é s i l e t s , H. 1984. Etude comparative de

l a b i o l o g i e de 2 groupes de lacs de l a rég ion de l'Outaouais: phyto- p l ancton . Rapport du m i n i s t è r e des pêches e t des océans. 9 p. t

annexes.

R I? . Chagnon, Y.C. 1984. Modèle biochimique de da ta t i on de l a mortal i t é d'oeufs de saumon a t l an t i que (Salmo sa la r ) . Rapport de Bio-Conseil Inc. au m in i s tè re des pêches e t des Océans. 19 p. + annexe.

R12. Brouard, D. 1984. Echanti l lonnage pér iodique de r i v i è r e s à saumon de l a & t e - ~ o r d du f l euve Saint-Laurent

( 1982-1 983 1 . Rapport de Gi l les Shooner Inc. au min is tère des pêches e t des océans. 22 p. + annexes.

R13. Campbel 1 , P.G.C., R. B o u g i e e t A. Tessier 1984. Comportement géochimique de I~a ium in ium dans les eaux de l a r i v i è r e Cassette (bassin de l a r i v i è r e des Escoumins) au cours de l a fon te p r i n tan iè re 1984. INRS-Eau, rappor t s c i e n t i f i q u e no 174. 38 p.

R14. Pope, G e , M.C. T a r i s s a n t s e t R. Fontaine. 1985. U t i l i s a t i o n de modèles trophiques e t de l a st ruc- t ure des communautés plancton i ques pour déterminer les e f f e t s de I ' ac i - d i t é e t de facteurs env ironnementaux p a r t i c u l i e r s sur la chaine al imen- t a i r e dans les lacs du Québec. Volume 1 : revue de l a documentation sc ien t i f i que . Rapport de IEC E!eak

au min is tère des pêches e t des océans.

R15. Pope, G., M.C. T a r i s s a n t s e t

R. Fontaine. 1985. U t i l i s a t i o n de modèles trophiques e t de l a s t ruc- t u r e des communautés p l anctoni ques pour déterminer les e f f e t s de I ' ac i - d i t é e t de facteurs env ironnementaux p a r t i c u l i e r s sur l a chaîne al imen- t a i r e dans les lacs du Quebec.

Volume 2 : étude l imnologique de 50 lacs du ~uébec. Rapport de IEC Beak au min is tère des pêches e t des 0c6ans.

R16. Pine!-Alloul, B. e t G. G t h o t . 1985.

Evaluat ion des e f f e t s de I ' a c i d i - f i c a t i o n sur les lacs du bouci i e r canadien: r e l a t i o n en t re les carac- t é r i s t i q u e s m o r p h o m é t r i q u e s , physico'chimiques e t b io logiques de 54 lacs du ~uébec. Rapport du Centre de recherches &O l og i ques de Montréal au m in i s tè re des pêches e t des Océans. 195 p. + annexes.

R17. B r o u a r d , D., R . L a l u m i è r e e t

A. Boudreault. 1984. Les p r é c i p i t a - t i o n s acides e t l a surv ie du saumon a t lan t ique: essai de modél i s a t i o n pour un bassin versant de l a &te- Nord du Saint-Laurent. Rapport

sec to r i e l 1 : desc r i p t i on du bassin expérimental e t caracter i s a t ion des propr ié tés édaph i ques . Rapport de G i l les Shooner Inc. au m in i s tè re des pêches e t des océans. 53 p. + annexes.

R18. Brouard, D., Y. Roy, C. Thel len e t

D. Dussault. 1985. Les préc i p i ta - t i o n s acides e t l a surv ie du saumon a t lan t ique: essai de mode1 i s a t ion pour un bassin versant de la &te- Nord du Sa i nt-Laurent . Rapport

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seetor i e l 2 : &a l u a t ion écotoxi co- l ogi qüee R a p p ~ r t de 61 1 l es Shooner e t Ass. 1 nc. au m l n l s t è r e des ~ k h e s e t des océans. 61 p. t annexe.

R19. Brcuard, D. e t M. Lachance. 1985. Les p r 6 c i p l t a t i o n s acides e t l a su rv le du saumon at lant ique: essai de mode1 i s a t i o n pour un bassin versant de l a Côte-Nord di Saint-Laurent. R a p p o r t s e c t o r i e l 3: qua1 l t e physlco-ch i m i que des eaux de sur face e t des p r6c Ip i t a t l ons . Rapport de Gi l l es Shooner e t Asse 1 nc. au m l n i s t k e des pêches e t des océans. 80 p. + 9 annexes.

R20. Braiard, D. e t M e Lachance. 1985. Les

p r & l p i t a t i o n s acides e t l a su rv ie du saumon a t lan t ique: essai de modél i s a t ion pour un bassin versan? de l a ~ 6 t e - N o r d du Saint-LaurenP. apport-sy nthèse de Gi l l e s Shooner e t Ass. I nc- au m l n i s t k e des ?$ches e t des Océans. 106 p. 9 16 annexes*

. 221. Leclerc, J. 1982. Etude de l a inortal i t é

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